Archive for March, 2006

Chairman George discusses Armory’s bonk on 2007 nationals

The April edition of National Masters News is out, and USATF Masters T&F Chair George Mathews has a column discussing the lost NYC indoor nationals (detailed several places on this blog). Happily, George’s column also is online. Sadly, NMN has ceased its tradition of printing an April Fools’ article. This is the second April issue […]

March 31, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Masters meet management manual online — at last

Becky Sisley of Oregon knows a thing or three about track. First, she’s a world-class masters jumper and thrower herself. Second, she’s a world-class meet organizer, with experience that includes the Hayward Masters Classic. So she was the ideal person to write a meet manual for USATF Masters Track & Field. The timing couldn’t be […]

March 31, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

The missing and the missed at Boston nationals

In early February, I excitedly mentioned the entry of an “Alfrederick Joyner” in the M45 triple jump at the Boston masters nationals. He’s otherwise known as Al Joyner, brother of JJK and an Olympic champ himself (in 1984). (He also was the husband of the late Florence Griffith Joyner, aka FloJo.) But Boston came and […]

March 31, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Masters pioneers salute Ian Hume’s legacy and memory

Bob Fine of Florida wrote the original WAVA Constitution and was part of that small Toronto group in 1975 that launched masters track’s world governing body. Cesare Beccalli of Italy also was at Toronto and later became the president of WAVA (now WMA) twice. Both have responded to my invitations to reflect on the passing […]

March 30, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Ian Hume, a masters founding father, dies at age 91

Canada’s Ian Hume — who along with countryman Don Farquharson and Americans Dave Pain and Bob Fine helped found the World Association of Veteran Athletes in the mid-1970s — died Tuesday at age 91, reports RunnersWeb.com. Ian’s 70-year competitive career ended in 1999 after he set dozens of masters records and won 29 world medals […]

March 30, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Valien makes it back-to-back Athletes of the Week

I’ve known Johnnye Valien for close to 10 years, and she never ceases to amaze. Yesterday, she finally got recognition from the Mother Ship, being named USATF Athlete of the Week. A week earlier, it was Bill Collins’ turn for that tip-top track honor. Now if only USATF would recognize meet announcers, all would be […]

March 29, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments

The consummate announcer adds Boston reflections

What do mafioso and masters have in common? They get nicknames. Well, at least the athlete superstars do. I refer to Phil “The Legend” Raschker. Pete Taylor coined Earl “The Great” Fee. And now in his latest thoughts on this past weekend’s Boston masters nationals, where he was meet announcer, Pete dubs M45 hurdler Karl […]

March 28, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  7 Comments

California and Texas made an impression at Boston nationals

Masters meet announcer Pete Taylor, who only a year ago was recovering from serious illness, has sent along his observations on the just-completed USATF National Masters Indoor Championships in Boston. He’s one of the few people in the sport who witness just about every event at nationals. His race calls add excitement to the meet, […]

March 27, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  6 Comments

Reading the fine print for more fine records

The Boston indoor nationals wrapped up today with a raft of records — some duly noted and at least three overlooked. Also, the Day 3 results sheet posted Sunday included an addendum: “Some Day 3 results were not received from the meet and are, therefore, notincluded on this page. USATF is trying to get the […]

March 26, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Records lost, found and butchered at Boston

Poor Dexter McCloud. He ties or breaks the M45 world indoor record in the 60 hurdles twice in a day at Linz, and a week later Karl Smith lowers the mark even further. So it went on Day 2 of the Boston masters nationals. Dexter’s 8.22 at the WMA world meet broke Colin Williams’ 4-year-old […]

March 25, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments