Archive for August, 2006

Was DQ man at Linz trying to avoid drug-testing?

M40 shot putter Sergey Rubtsov of Kazakstan was disqualified at the Linz world indoor meet in March because he left the arena midway through his event, we’ve now confirmed. Why skedaddle? One private report said he feared being drug-tested. I’ve sent inquiries to several WMA amigos, and so far the only response is from Numero […]

August 16, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

YouTube shows Bill Collins at Charlotte nationals

I don’t know who Sleepy7 is, but thanks! A gent with this handle shot some races at the Charlotte masters nationals — and uploaded footage to YouTube.com, the video-sharing site. My own clips are still in my camcorder. So while I snoozed, Sleepy7 won the prize for quick uploading. One shows Bill Collins winning the […]

August 15, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Lemonade Makers R Us: A Swan song from Charlotte

Injuries are part of athletic life. We accept that reality and rehab for next season (or the next age group). But masters are especially expert at finding silver linings. A great example is W40 jumper/thrower Pam Swan of Bowdoin, Maine. She writes: “Charlotte was my dream meet, and although things didn’t pan out quite like […]

August 15, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Anger still boiling over Charlotte four-throws/jumps edict

A week ago Saturday morning, I was down on the track at Charlotte — learning that meet officials had limited throwers and horizontal jumpers to four attempts instead of the usual six. This was the crunch day of the meet, when events that had been canceled Friday night (due to a lightning storm) were rolled […]

August 14, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  11 Comments

Shot in the dark: Kazak thrower DQ’d from Linz event

It’s been five months since Linz, but fallout continues from that world masters indoor championships. The latest news, published on the WMA Web site a week ago, is that M40 shot putter Sergey Rubtsov of Kazakhstan has been DQ’d for “rule violations.” Which rules? Who knows? WMA doesn’t say. We do know that Sergey is […]

August 13, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Nearman has Times of his life talking masters

Steve Nearman, the Washington Times running columnist, took fourth in the M45 1500 at Charlotte (but was the third American). For penance and play, he flew west after nationals — to Boulder, Colo. It’s a place where you can run yourself ragged. It’s also great column fodder (and tax write-off?). Here Steve writes about the […]

August 13, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Merlene Ottey clocks 11.34, quips: ‘Why should I stop?’

Heck, I could have beaten Merlene — when I was 17 and if she were 46. But today in Glasgow, she was unstoppable, winning the Scottish 100 title in 11.34, her season best and another W45 world record. At the start of this season the listed world record was 12.25 by Germany’s Karin von Riewel […]

August 12, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

My Charlotte nationals photo gallery is up

It’s up — down and backwards, too. Haven’t had time to put the shots in any story-telling order, or to add captions. But what the heck. Check out the gallery. Mine (with 180-plus fotos) is just one of several online albums from nationals. This professional got some great images. Field eventer Pam Swan of Maine, […]

August 12, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Amid the heat, chills ran up Pete Taylor’s spine

Now it can be revealed. The “air-conditioned” press box where Pete Taylor held forth for countless hours in Charlotte was barely that. He writes: “Yes, I used ice bags under my shirt on Thursday and Friday, and in the dormitory public room I credit Julie Hayden (ran a sparkling 5:06.64 1500 in W45) with saving […]

August 12, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Bank on Brazil to host WMA worlds in 2011

So it seems, and that’s just the way WMA Prez Cesare Beccalli likes it. As reported here earlier, part-time Brazilian resident Beccalli wants desperately to have his adopted home host the worlds. Now we have details on where exactly in that big ol’ country. Pete Mulholland of Britain writes: “A bid is being prepared for […]

August 11, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments