Archive for December, 2007

Nearman leads Boston drive for our gifted announcer

Last August, M45 runner Steve Nearman announced a drive to help pay Peter Taylor’s way to the Spokane masters outdoor nationals in 2008. Today he has great news: Mission accomplished. Spokane meet organizers have agreed to include Taylor, our longtime meet announcer, in its budget. Steve writes: “Spokane saw the importance of Peter and the […]

December 25, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Webcasting of masters nationals one-and-done?

Through an arrangement with Wasserman Media Group, USATF was able to webcast the Orono nationals last summer. There I chatted with the young camera crew high above the track at the University of Maine. I got the impression they were doing it on spec — basically showing USATF how they could generate an audience. They […]

December 25, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Masters headline the no-masters Dream indoor meet

How ironic. Three weeks after informing us that masters events aren’t welcome at the 2008 “Run for the Dream” indoor meet January 21 in Fresno, meet organizers announce that their headline entrants are — two masters athletes. M35 Allen Johnson and W35 Stacy Dragila — both Olympic champions — are the touted pair. And both […]

December 24, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

W50 Patty Blanchard burns indoor WR for the 800

Patty Blanchard, a 50-year-old French teacher, paid her $5 (Canadian) entry fee yesterday at the Universite de Moncton in New Brunswick and got her money’s worth — a reported 2:25.02 world indoor record for the 800 meters. (The listed W50 world indoor record is 2:25.28 by Great Britain’s Caroline Marler in 2001.) Patty recorded the […]

December 23, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Ready, set, nominate U.S. masters athletes of year

In August 2008, USATF will honor its top masters athletes at the Spokane outdoor nationals. This will cover the 2007 indoor and outdoor seasons. I’ve already described the change in time frame for selection. But details haven’t been shared on how you can nominate folks for various awards. Doing the honors is Dave Clingan, chairman […]

December 22, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Mastersrankings.com has head start on 2008 season

Don’t look now, but the 2008 indoor season is here. It started this month. Mastersrankings.com — subsidized by USATF via your annual fees — already has oodles of marks, including a remarkable 9:06.45 for 3,000 meters by 49-year-old Craig Fram. Of course, Craig (profiled here) holds the M45 American record of 8:39.74, set at Boston […]

December 21, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Masters exhibitionists, your showcase meets are listed

Despite the troubles of last season, the Millrose Games again beckon to masters 4×4 relay teams in February 2008. Mark Cleary, the USATF Masters Invitational Program coordinator, has posted info on who can enter. Four other meets are on the masters agenda this year as well — including the Olympic Trials in Eugene in June, […]

December 20, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments

Wyatt has unique status in the Masters Hall of Fame

Last week, M70 jumper Tom Langenfeld sent me a note with an interesting revelation: Of the hundreds of members of the USATF Masters Hall of Fame, only 2007 inductee Herm Wyatt is strictly a high jumper. Many multi-eventers are in the Hall, but only Herm can say he was a HJ specialist. Interesting. Here’s what […]

December 19, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Wild and crazy Croatians set Riccione video to AC/DC

Riccione videos are still popping up on YouTube. The latest — lasting nearly 4 minutes — features the members of the Croatian team at the WMA world masters championships. Check it out, but turn the sound down if you’re not into head-banging rockers. AC’DC’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation” is the background track to this quick-cutting […]

December 18, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

Raschker’s latest honor: Geezerjock of the Year

Geezerjock magazine is now titled Masters Athlete, and the cover girl of its current issue is Phil Raschker. Track is now 2-for-3 in GeezerJocks of the Year (which will remain the award’s name). Bill Collins won in 2005, and a racquetball player won the honor in 2006. Allen Lessels wrote a nice profile of Phil, […]

December 17, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment