Archive for March, 2009

World records begin falling early at Eurovets meet in Italy

I won’t even try to keep track of world records set this week at the Eurovets indoor championships in Ancona, Italy. But Pete Mulholland, covering his British athletes in Ancona, sent me this note yesterday on Day 1: “It was shortly after 9:30 a.m. European time that Germany’s Christina Friederick went out to 9.42 meters […]

March 27, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Sumi Onodera-Leonard completes comeback: USATF honor

Everyone in Southern California knows Sumi Onodera-Leonard. Now the world will. Yesterday she was named USATF Athlete of the Week after setting two W80 world records at Landover nationals. This completes an incredible comeback from a near fatal auto crash in Arizona. Sumi has long suffered from hearing loss, but when the gun goes off, […]

March 26, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

Snyder promises corrected Landover results in 2 weeks

Last night, USATF Masters T&F Chairman Gary Snyder publicly tackled the Landover results mess for the first time. He says results will be reposted next month, and “I have also initiated a complete review of procedures for the timing (of) future USA Championship meets including the option (of using) our own equipment and crew.” His entry began: “As many […]

March 26, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Landover’s legacy: World and American records lost forever?

For whatever reason, the timing operation at Landover nationals last weekend was a botch. Posted results still haven’t been fixed. Athletes are in a fog about their marks. One is Earl Fee of  Ontario, Canada, among the greatest masters runners of our time (and author of the sensational book at left). He turned 80 the day […]

March 26, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  7 Comments

It’s the Eurovets’ turn — monster meet begins today in Italy

You shouldn’t judge a track meet by its program. But the online version of the Eurovets indoor championships “competition book” is sensational. It’s 68 pages, with lots of information about countries entered. Long lists of athletes and their events. Gorgeous photography and design. The meet’s technical manual also is posted. Another model for major meets […]

March 25, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  13 Comments

Paging Jules Lucas, chief timer of Landover masters nationals

Jules Lucas was the chief timer at Landover nationals. His old Web site  at R and R Timing in Maryland said his company’s mission “is to provide reliable, high quality track & field timing & data management services.  The job of effectively managing track & field information during a meet is not easy.  We pride […]

March 25, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

Empire State Games are back: officially set for early June

New York masters athletes, rejoice!  As telegraphed here, your Empire State Games are back. This note was sent to earlier participants: “The Empire State Senior Games are back on and will be held June 2 – 7, 2009 in Cortland! Entry deadlines: Individual entries – May 1, 2009. Team entries – April 24, 2009. Sport […]

March 24, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Landover meet director invites questions, promises fixes

Craig Chasse, the Potomac Valley Track Club leader, was meet director for the Landover nationals, and he writes: “Let your bloggers know I will resolve any error they might find in the results.  They can send their event and details directly to me if they haven’t already done so.” His address is cchasse.acds@juno.com.  That’s brave of Craig […]

March 24, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  8 Comments

Reform records NOW! Track can use swimming as a template

Meet Walt Reid, a swimmer in his late 60s. Back in 1977, he began masters competition and became an integral part of the movement.  Since the mid-1980s, he’s been in charge of records for USMS — United States Masters Swimming — and handles top 10 age-group rankings as well. USMS has 40,000 members ages 18 to 100-plus […]

March 24, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Results botched at Landover nationals? Triage is under way

The hurdlers are outraged. Runners are up in arms. Even the high jumpers have questions. How much is wrong in the posted results of Landover nationals?  M35 hurdler Don Drummond posted this comment today: “Hurdle results were not correct. I went to the Meet Manager who was performing the finish times to see a picture and […]

March 23, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  38 Comments