Archive for November, 2009
GĂ©rard Dumas: ‘Pitiful’ vaulter marks latest historic milestone
GĂ©rard Dumas, a British Columbian fluent in two languages (English and Canadian), also speaks vault. In fact, he’s the pre-eminent historian of the event. He’s also the most vertically traveled vaulter ever. 
Now 74, GĂ©rard claims 1,000 competitions (not including beach vaults or meets where he recorded no heights), reports Roger Ruth. “GĂ©rard has competed in a […]
November 20, 2009
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Masters track returning to California State Games in 2010
After perhaps a four-year absence, masters track returns to the California State Games next year, reports Lauren Brosamer, a marketer for the event. She writes: “In the 2010 California State Games we are adding an Open/Masters division in track and field. The meet will take place Friday, July 9, 2010, in San Diego. The first […]
November 19, 2009
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Memo to Stan Perkins: WMA site needs to expedite big news
Stan Perkins On May 1, 2010, masters tracksters around the world begin observing new rules of the game. For example: Some age groups will throw new weights. The decisions were made more than four months ago at the Lahti General Assembly (which I summarized in my original report). But only this week did WMA think […]
November 18, 2009
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$300 in Target cash offered in masters popularity contest
Don McGrath, the 50-interview gent, writes: “I’m sponsoring a contest for the 50-k Active/Athlete Challenge members that I thought you would be interested in. It is a photo contest for people who have taken the Challenge and has a first place prize of $300 in Target gift cards, while the 2nd place prize is an […]
November 17, 2009
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San Diego USATF: Top-secret masters meet is postponed
The USATF San Diego Association Masters Championships scheduled for November 22 have been postponed. Say what? You didn’t know about no masters meet?  Join the club. OK, lissen up: San Diego USATF folks have been promising an association masters meet since July — piggybacking the San Diego Track Club’s Chuck McMahon memorial meet. But it was canceled. […]
November 16, 2009
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Lillian Snaden, Masters Hall of Fame nominee, dies at 80
Thrower Lillian Snaden, who competed at Landover and Oshkosh nationals and was a longtime South Carolina USATF official, died November 3 after an illness, according to posted obituaries and friends who have shared the sad news. “I will miss her dearly,” Valerie Beesley of USATF S.C. said in this online report. “No matter how tired […]
November 15, 2009
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Olympic relay champ Bruny Surin targeting M40 indoor best?
Bruny Surin This needs to be verified. But a posting on a Canadian track message board says: “Hey everyone, There is going to be a mens 50m invitational at Mcgill on December 5th. It will be a straight final only, if you’re interested to run it, send me a msg. 2 time World Indoor Champion […]
November 14, 2009
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Phil Raschker honored by tiny Alabama sports university
USATF’s News & Notes yesterday trumpeted another honor for Phil Raschker. She won a Distinguished Service Award from the United States Sports Academy, which calls itself “an independent, non-profit, SACS accredited sports university” and adds: “The role of the Academy is to prepare men and women for careers in the profession of sports.” (Mainly coaching, […]
November 13, 2009
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American masters track racer admits doping at nationals
Kenny Williams Relax. It’s not one of us. It’s the other masters track — two-wheeled racing. An M40 cyclist named Kenny Williams, reports this site, “tested positive for the banned substance DHEA in a test taken at United States masters nationals in Colorado Springs. In a letter first published at cycle-smart.com, Williams called the decision […]
November 12, 2009
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Andrew Boyce’s mission: Promote vaulting as ‘extreme sport’
Andrew Boyce Track and field was the original “extreme sport.” But the X-Games perverted the meaning. “Action” sports like skateboarding and BMX stole our brand! Now Andrew Boyce, an M40 jumper as crazy as the snowboard nuts, wants to reclaim the crown of “extreme” for its true king: pole vaulting. Andrew’s recent video showing him […]
November 10, 2009
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19 Comments