Archive for July, 2009

Oshkosh Day 3: Sabra Harvey’s out-of-the-woodwork WR

Sabra Harvey, a Houston grandmother, broke the listed W60 world record in the 800 today at Oshkosh nationals — one of several WRs to go down. Her time of  2:34.66 smashes the 2:36.94 by Holland’s Gerda Van Kooten at 1999 Gateshead worlds. On the Age Graded Tables, her mark corresponds to an open (age 20-30) time […]

July 11, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  9 Comments

Oshkosh Day 2: Crashing and burning becomes contagious

Bill Collins today won perhaps his eighth straight outdoor 400 title at nationals, limped over to the artificial grass infield and plopped on the ground. I asked him, “How’s the leg?” He replied, “Hurts like hell.”  Trainers at the nearby medical tent wrapped Bill’s lower leg in ice — their latest patient on Day 2 […]

July 10, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  16 Comments

Parking fee to go away, but admission stays at Oshkosh

National Chairman Gary Snyder told his Executive Committee last night that the $3 parking fee at Oshkosh (which even he paid) would be dropped for the rest of the meet — not just due to complaints but because USATF’s contract with the University of Wisconsin called for complimentary athlete parking. Not so lucky with the […]

July 10, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  16 Comments

Oshkosh Day 1: 3 world records new and one old celebrated

Just a quickie post. Gotta compete in 9 hours. Three world age-groups records were set at Oshkosh nationals today as athletes competed in comfy low 80s while commiserating about the chance of showers Friday. And at night, the USATF Masters T&F Executive Committee began work on overhauling the records process after hearing my 10-minute rant that […]

July 9, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

USA Today features Nadine O’Connor and Bud Held big time

The Sports page of USA Today today has a big spread on W65 vault icon Nadine O’Connor and her partner Bud Held, with great details on their masters lives and motivations. Plus this fascinating tidbit: ” ‘With older athletes, I think they appreciate being able to be out there,’ said O’Connor, among the 526 women […]

July 9, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

Will Oshkosh weather dampen McBarnette’s record bid?

World champion Bruce McBarnette reports that he raised his own American record in the M50 high jump in mid-June at a Virginia all-comers meet. In a press release sent yesterday, he says he cleared 1.92 meters (6-3 1/2) at Major J. Wells track at Falls Church High School — his ninth M50 record. Current forecasts show […]

July 9, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  6 Comments

Mike Powell (again) renews talk of masters long jump WR

Mike Powell, who broke Bob Beamon’s hallowed long jump record, has been talking about a serious masters track comeback for years. Now he’s on the record at some obscure site that nobody ever visits. We learn from the IAAF: “World Long Jump record holder Mike Powell talked eloquently about his role as an IAAF Ambassador […]

July 7, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  24 Comments

Bob Matteson bearing down on M90 world record for 200

I love small-town papers. They don’t give a fig for formalities. Latest example: A headline in the Bennington Banner (in Vermont) says, “Gazelle scores despite storm.” The paper reports: “Bennington’s Bob Matteson defied the elements at the Adirondack Masters Championships in Valatie, N.Y., this past Friday. The Geezer Gazelle was slowed by pounding rain and […]

July 7, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Final call for signatures! Help secure saner records system

Petition goes to Oshkosh tomorrow!  Enough talk. Time for action. On May 4, I launched a petition drive to repair our out-of-whack records process. This is Step 1 in a journey that I hope will lead to adoption of new governance rules at the USATF annual meeting in Indianapolis this December. One cranky blogger can […]

July 7, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  18 Comments

Olympian Jearl Clark is latest scratch for Oshkosh nationals

Olympic gold medalist (in relays) Jearl Clark isn’t coming to Oshkosh nationals. USATF communications chief Jill Geer reports that Jearl (who no longer goes by Jearl Miles-Clark) “says she’s not going to be there. Husband had to go overseas at the last minute.” Bummer. Jearl had been entered in the W40 100, 200 and 400 […]

July 6, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  7 Comments