Archive for November, 2006

Mt. SAC is candidate for 2009 masters nationals

Mt. SAC stands for Mt. San Antonio College. The springtime Mt. SAC Relays, a three- or four-day affair east of Los Angeles, is one of the best meets on the April calendar in the United States. In 2009, it could be the home of the USATF masters nationals as well. That’s the hope of the […]

November 7, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

Scoring proposal for clubs: No mediocre folks allowed

Qualifying standards for masters nationals? Well, not quite. But one of the proposed rule changes before the Indy national convention of USATF puts us on that slippery slope. Under Item 91, submitted by George Mathews on behalf of Carroll DeWeese, Rule 331.2(a) would be amended to add: “For purposes of Club scoring, no performance with […]

November 6, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  17 Comments

The Rono Chronicles: Henry runs a hilly 5K in 20:55

Former distance god Henry Rono raced a hilly 5K yesterday in New Mexico, where he lives, clocking 20:55. That’s what he reports on the letsrun.com message board thread devoted to his masters comeback at age 54 — a thread now 44 pages long! His goal remains an attempt on the M55 world record in the […]

November 5, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Neil Griffin seeks right to appeal 2-year dope ban

Neil Griffin, the M55 thrower caught in a Kafka-esque doping suspension, hasn’t spoken publicly yet. But a “statement on his behalf” has been sent to Athletics Weekly, the world’s premier track and field magazine. Editor Jason Henderson published the statement and writes on his blog: “The suspension of British M55 thrower Neil Griffin will be […]

November 5, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

USATF proposal: Ditch national champion patches

Steve Vaitones of the New England USATF association is intimately involved with masters track, having helped run the masters indoor nationals in Boston for many years. But he’s tone-deaf when it comes to some masters’ wants. And they want patches for winning national championships. At this month’s Indianapolis convention, delegates will consider a rule change […]

November 5, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  9 Comments

L.A. plotting bid for 2009 outdoor masters nationals

The California grapevine is buzzing about a likely bid for the 2009 USATF Outdoor Masters National Championships. USATF Western Regional Coordinator Mark Cleary has informed some folks: “The bid for the 2009 outdoor nationals has a few details that need to be resolved. . . I feel that the bid will go forward, but I […]

November 4, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  6 Comments

Indy jury to render verdict on Charlotte M45 hurdles race

Carroll DeWeese of the Games Committee that oversaw the Charlotte nationals informs me that Jeff Brower has made a formal protest of the controversial DQ reversal in the M45 short hurdles. In an email note today, Carroll writes that the USATF Jury of Appeals received the protest this past Monday, and “since this protest involves […]

November 3, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Derek Turnbull dead at age 79; a masters legend

Doug Smith in Canada passes along this very sad news from New Zealand Press Association: “Southland’s Derek Turnbull, dubbed the ‘greatest veteran runner of all time,’ has died. Aged 79, Turnbull died in his sleep yesterday (Thursday). The sheep farmer from Tussock Creek started masters running at 40, setting 25 world age group records from […]

November 3, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Charlotte referee mystifies hurdlers over undo of DQ

The M45 110-meter hurdle race at Charlotte nationals was among the greatest in masters history, given the 14.41 world age-group record it produced. Jamaica’s Karl Smith was chased to the record by Linz world champion Dexter McCloud of Georgia. But Dexter was DQ’d shortly after the race, giving the national championship to Jeff Brower of […]

November 3, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  18 Comments

Hayward Classic 2007 a no-go? Track refurb is hurdle

On Halloween, Ron Bellamy of the Eugene Register-Guard detailed plans for a new, improved Hayward Field, the legendary track stadium at the University of Oregon and site of the 2008 Olympic Trials. But it was no treat for masters track. The nut graf: “The major portion of the renovation project will start the day after […]

November 2, 2006   Posted in: Uncategorized  7 Comments