Archive for February, 2006

Bill Collins begins assault on M55 record book

Bill Collins apparently has set his first M55 world record — clocking 7.47 seconds for 60 meters today at an indoor meet in Houston. That beats the listed WR of 7.51 by Germany’s Manfred Koch in 2003. In the same meet, fellow Texan Bobby Whilden was timed in 8.22 — equaling the listed M70 world […]

February 11, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Olympic champ Al Joyner joining masters in Boston

For several years, noises have been made about 1984 Olympic TJ champ Al Joyner (Mr. Flo-Jo and brother of Jackie) making a masters comeback. Now we have some hard evidence. The “status of entries” page for the Boston masters indoor nationals lists an Alfrederick Joyner in the M45 triple jump, with a qualifying mark of […]

February 10, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Legendary German high jumper making Linz comeback

In 1999, Thomas-Michael Zacharias shocked the masters world by announcing his retirement from the high jump wars — only two years after clearing 2 meters (6-6 3/4) at age 50. He cited “mental stress” and wrote in an open letter to his German friends: “I am glowing only for a short period and then the […]

February 10, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Barksdale reveals Olympic goal in sprints at age 44

Sharrieffa Barksdale, a 1984 Olympian in the 400 hurdles, is training for a masters comeback with the avowed intent of making the 2008 U.S. Olympic team. Wow! The revelation comes in a long story published today in the Lexington Herald-Leader in Kentucky, where Barksdale lives and trains. She is serious, saying: “I’m going to succeed […]

February 9, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Entries posted for masters 200 exhibitions at open nationals

Masters invitational program coordinator Mark Cleary reports that entries are set for the exhibition men’s and women’s 200-meter dashes at the USATF open nationals Feb. 26 in Boston. And as I predicted, the age groups featured are both 40-49. Mark writes: “The fields are posted online on status of entries page for the meet at […]

February 8, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

GeezerJock growing up, will charge newbies after March 31

Five issues into its young life, GeezerJock has matured into a serious publication. The SI-style masters sports and fitness magazine, whose first issue featured coverage of the Decatur masters nationals (and a fish on the “Pool Days” cover), is ready to take the next big leap — into the deep end of paid subscriptions. Editor […]

February 8, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Paul Babits gets his 15 inches of local fame

Yesterday, Pawlik. Today Babits — as in Paul Babits, the new M45 indoor pole vault record holder. His hometown paper ran a nice feature on him today. Great quote in the article: “Once you get to 35 or 40 years old and you’re no longer jumping in the 18-foot range, and you’re starting to jump […]

February 8, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Emil Pawlik gets some ink, at last, in local paper

Everyone in masters track knows Emil Pawlik, the down-to-earth and friendly multi-event star and world record holder (and recently minted Masters Hall of Famer). Now his hometown paper has discovered him as well. The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Miss., did a wonderful montage to acompany the story, and gave it a great headline too: “Track and […]

February 7, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Peter Snell makes mile comeback at 67 — sort of, kind of

Dr. Peter Snell, the Olympic legend and former world record holder, ran a mile today to open the New Zealand Masters Games in his native land. He lives in Texas now, but as they say, “You can take the boy out of New Zealand but not New Zealand out of the boy.” The local Otago […]

February 6, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Gail Devers on motherhood and the R-word

Gail Devers should be appointed director of central intelligence. She knows how to keep a secret. Not even Garry Hill, editor of Track & Field News, knew that Gail at 39 had taken off the 2005 track season to have a baby girl with her husband, Mike Phillips. Heck, Garry didn’t even know she was […]

February 5, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment