Archive for September, 2009

European Senior Games are latest offering on masters scene

You can’t tell your masters games without a program. The National Senior Games took place last month in Northern California. The World Masters Games are next month in Sydney. But right now, the European Senior Games are wrapping up in Holland, and in 2011, the European Masters Games are set for Lignano, Italy. But WMA […]

September 11, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  6 Comments

Fab Four made Penn Relays history in City of Brotherly Love

No, the Beatles didn’t reunite (and half-return from the dead). But four brothers in their 60s and 70s did come together in April 2008 for an amazing relay at Penn — which I learned of only recently. The youngest (and fastest) sent me a note and this news clip from May 2008. Hugh McCay wrote: “I […]

September 10, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

U.S. superstars trying new events at World Masters Games

Bruce McBarnette in the sprints?  Bill Collins in the long jump? Yessiree!  According to the 205-page entrants list of the Sydney World Masters Games track meet provided by at least four people, high jumper Bruce and sprinter Bill will test waters outside of their comfort zone next month. But what happens in Australia stays in […]

September 9, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  11 Comments

Sydney World Masters Games entrants posted — for a price

A couple days ago, I wrote some folks at the Sydney World Masters Games. I had a simple question: “Where might I find a final competitors list for the Sydney World Masters Games athletics meet? It had been promised for Sept. 7.” I got this not-so-simple reply yesterday from meet organizer Gill Elphinston: “Hi Ken, This information […]

September 9, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments

Community college track class for masters being explored

A few masters athletes in San Diego are hoping to interest a local community college in offering a masters age-group track and field class. It might meet twice a week as a credit/no-credit option. Anyone could join, at any experience level. This could help expand the pool of age-groupers in the region and lift the […]

September 9, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

Need for speed: Why masters records must be posted pronto!

In her latest blog entry at YLFOR, Alyssa Tower admits that she wept when she saw the USATF W45 record for the track 10,000. It showed a pending mark from April 2008 by Monica Joyce — and not Alyssa’s own 38:10 at the USATF National Club Championships in mid-July 2009. Alyssa wrote today: “Last week […]

September 8, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  13 Comments

Anselm’s masters advocacy group has a name: USAMA

Anselm LeBourne, the world champion sparkplug of the Lahti meeting that led to a masters athletes group within USATF, writes today: “The name of the group will be USAMA based on the votes received. I want to personally thank all of you for contributing to this advocacy group . . . so we can move […]

September 8, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments

Untold story of Bill Murray: From whale to world champion

Bill Murray is the biggest loser I know. But I didn’t realize this until after he’d returned home to his real estate business in Alabama following Lahti, where he won the M55 decathlon in an American record. Bill doesn’t boast about his weight loss. In fact, he fessed up details (and sent me the photo […]

September 8, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  10 Comments

Olga Kotelko and Jerry Smartt nicely profiled in home press

Jerry Smartt ran some M75 distance races at Lahti worlds, and though he didn’t bring home a medal, his visit was golden. It was a homecoming of sorts. In a great profile published today in the Columbia Missourian, he tells Sarah Nail: “I learned how to run when I first went to Finland in 1956. I […]

September 7, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

WMA anti-doping chief dropping hints of Lahti positive?

Germany’s Dieter Massin, the anti-doping crusader and president of the Eurovets, has sent a tantalizing clue that someone was caught in Lahti’s drug dragnet. In response to my query (Did anyone test positive at Lahti?), Dieter replied today: “The tests, done in Lahti, are still in process. A statement will be published on our website.” […]

September 7, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments