Archive for December, 2006
George Mathews agrees Neil Griffin got the WMA shaft
George Mathews really is just getting started. In addition to venting on USATF, he now feels liberated to comment on WMA issues as well, especially the drug-testing rituals that seem to penalize masters. George writes: “As you can see, I’m starting to work for the sport in a different way now. Blogging is the way […]
December 31, 2006
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Ex-chair: Masters should seek divorce from USATF
George Mathews is free. After nearly six years as chairman of the USATF Masters Track & Field Committee, George suddenly resigned in the wake of a near-disaster at Charlotte nationals and internal fights over masters finances. “This period of time was pure hell (for me),” George wrote this week. But unchained from office, he now […]
December 30, 2006
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Henry Rono Watch: Plans 4-miler on New Year’s Day
According to the latest Henry Rono post on the gargantuan letsrun.com thread devoted to his masters mile record ambitions, Henry will enter the Egg Nog Jog in Albuquerque on Jan. 1, 2007 — the year he turns 55. Yesterday, Henry wrote: “I can feel in the knee joints coming up to quads and the jaw […]
December 29, 2006
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Masters to resurrect the Southern California Striders
The Southern California Striders, which began in the mid-1950s as an elite track club featuring Olympians and world-record holders, will make a comeback in 2007 after years of quiescence as a masters-only organization. That was the big news coming out of the Striders’ annual awards banquet tonight in Anaheim Hills, California. Club President Brenda Matthews, […]
December 28, 2006
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Masters exhibition events: 800 indoors, mile outdoors
The latest issue of National Masters News is out, and it reveals the masters exhibition events to be contested at the USA national (open) championships in 2007. Amid the Indy convention summary, Jerry Wojcik writes: “(Mark) Cleary, Masters Invitational Program, reported that a masters 800 for men and women will be held at the USA […]
December 27, 2006
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Hans Röcken’s series: five throws past the world record
Hans Röcken, the new M65 indoor weight throw recordman, should be a sprinter — as fast as he replied to my email queries. One question was: What was your series? He says he opened with a 17.25 (56-7 1/4), which beat his Miyazaki WAVA friend Dick Hotchkiss’ record by nearly a foot and a half. […]
December 27, 2006
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German rocks M65 world record in indoor weight toss
Hans Röcken, an M65 weightman in Germany, has shattered that age group’s world indoor record in the weight throw, spinning the 20-pound implement out 19.12 meters (62-8 3/4), reports a Dec. 23 posting on Annette’s Seite that cites this original report. That’s a monster 7 feet farther than the listed WR of 16.79 (55-1) by […]
December 26, 2006
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British starters recall lessons from Charlotte nationals
Two of the starters at masters nationals last August had a slightly different accent from what you’d expect in North Carolina. No wonder. They were from Britain. In fact, they were taking part in a USATF/UK Athletics Starters Exchange Program. We sent Raymond Pierre and Tiffany Freddie-Banks across the pond. They sent Denis Murphy and […]
December 25, 2006
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Snakes alive! Hartwig and Manson plan M40 record chase
Jeff Hartwig, a world-class vaulter who turns 40 on Sept. 25, 2007, has higher aspirations than mere age-group records, but is acutely aware of the calendar. He writes me: “Tim Lobinger of Germany . . . planted a bug in my ear last year when he said that we could organize some late season meets […]
December 24, 2006
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My reaction to ‘Rocky Balboa’ — give Stallone a shot!
Sylvester Stallone is one buff 60-year-old. I saw “Rocky Balboa“ with my wife and son this afternoon, and it was everything I expected. It was touching, thrilling and nostalgic. But what I ddn’t expect to feel is curiosity: What could Sly Stallone do as an M60 shot putter? Man, is he strong! I realize that […]
December 23, 2006
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