Archive for December, 2004

Masters T&F nets $4,500 extra from USATF

Begging works! Suzy Hess of the Masters T&F Committee confirms that the 20-minute presentation by Masters Chair George Mathews this past Friday in Portland swayed the USATF budget appeals board. Masters T&F had asked for $13,500 for six specific items, but USATF granted $4,500 — which supplements the previously approved annual allocation of $32,000. So […]

December 6, 2004   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

On bended knee before the budget appeals board

Hat in hand, they made their pitches: We need more money from the Mother Ship. Poker-faced, the USATF budget appeals board sat in judgment of USATF LDR, open track and other committees before the masters delegation appeared for its own audience. Shortly after 12:20 p.m. Friday, Masters Chair George Mathews began his remarks, seeking a […]

December 3, 2004   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Big Apple snags USATF indoor nationals for 2007

USATF Masters T&F Secretary Bob Cahners started spreading the news at 10:25 this morning — that New York City’s Armory track center beat the bid from Boston and the New England USATF Association to host the 2007 USATF National Masters Indoor Championships. The vote was 38-12 in favor of New York. It’s the first time […]

December 3, 2004   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Sandy Pashkin’s mea culpa on the Parker record

Just after 8 a.m. today, USATF Masters T&F Records chair Sandy Pashkin stood before the MT&F Committee here in Portland and announced that she was wrong Thursday about Rod Parker not setting an M85 WR in the 200. In fact, Parker’s time — 34.41 — was legal. It was run into a .1 mps wind. […]

December 3, 2004   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

USATF Masters take step to free athletes

A serious problem for some elite masters athletes is whether they can affiliate with a track club outside their home association. Normally, it’s no problem. The home association and the target association give rubber-stamp approval to the request. But in at least one California association, an official tends to block such transfer of club allegiance. […]

December 3, 2004   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Masters athletes of the year — minus one

Phil Byrne, who heads the USATF Masters T&F Awards Committee, on Thursday night announced the results of a three-hour meeting Wednesday that chose top male and female athletes in all age groups, both track and field. But he uttered an embarrassed “Oops!” upon realizing that one of the group’s selections — for Single Best Male […]

December 2, 2004   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Craigo pays a visit to MT&F Committee

Craig Masback, the CEO of USA Track & Field, popped in on the USATF Masters Track & Field Committee meeting this morning, and took a bunch of questions in his 50-minute venture onto geezer turf. I give him credit for dealing straight with us, even if it meant telling masters that we weren’t likely to […]

December 2, 2004   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Memo to Masback: Show masters the money

USATF has begun its annual national convention here in Portland, Oregon — and begun issuing self-congratulatory press releases with its “One Team, One Dream” message. Among other things, USATF trumpets: “Significant milestones were achieved in several areas, particularly in USATF resources. USATF has now paid off the $3 million debt that (Craig) Masback inherited when […]

December 1, 2004   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed