Archive for January, 2010

Italians have great idea: frosh and soph masters of the year

What’s the point of annual masters awards? To honor the best by age group, of course. But the Italians have another idea: Awards should encourage newbies as well. So they’ve started freshman and sophomore categories, mainly meant for M35 and W35 athletes just starting out in masters. “This year we want to make a little […]

January 15, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

All-star field listed for masters shot exhibition in New Mexico

Jamie Koch Jamie Koch, organizer of the masters shot exhibition at USATF open indoor nationals, wrote me today to list the bulk of his 8-man field in Albuquerque. “The participants include Paul Economides in the 60s; Steve Ross in the 60s; Tim Miller from Arizona in the 55s; Mike Charas in the 55s, Jerry Vaughn […]

January 14, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  11 Comments

Source: Masters shot field to showcase some of nation’s best

A well-connected masters thrower spoke Wednesday with Jamie Koch, organizer of the masters shot exhibition at USATF open nationals next month in Albuquerque. My source says the thrower will be “working with (Jamie) to construct the field.” Further, says my source: “It was never intended to be just a bunch of his local friends and […]

January 14, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

More than two dozen French booked for Kamloops meet

M40 distance runner and race walker Emmanuel Tardi in France has shared the roster of countrymen entered at Kamloops worlds. Twenty-seven are entered. I recognize M50 Bruno Dupuy, who beat Val Barnwell in the M45 200 at Riccione worlds in 2007. These are probably the cream of the crop that competed at the 2008 World […]

January 14, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

Couple dozen All-America Standard marks at Penn. meet

Heather Scanlon shares results from a hand-timed masters meet January 3 in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, where boldfaced marks denote All-American Standard performances. See results here. Nice touch, since it helps folks recognize at a glance the top marks. (I’m guilty of overlooking top throws, for example. To me, anything over 20 feet is awesome.) Renee Henderson, […]

January 13, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Millrose Games to feature geezer sprinters (but only ex-NFL)

An exhibition 60-meter race at the Millrose Games, just announced by USATF, “is expected to feature” M45 superstar Willie Gault, almost M35 Tim Dwight and M30 David Tyree. Why these folks? I guess they have some kind of pro football connection. But then why stop there? What about NFL Hall of Famer James Lofton?  Or Phil McConkey, a […]

January 13, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

German sports university latest to seek masters guinea pigs

I spoze we should feel flattered. Every year, some major college asks for masters athletes to take part in a survey or study. All are serious, but few report back. I think the latest, from a German sports university, will do a better job of sharing their findings. Check out this appeal. The actual study is […]

January 13, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

USATF indoor meet director: No shot entries beyond locals

Jamie Koch I’m often told, “He who pays the piper calls the tune.” That seems to be the case with the USA National Indoor Track & Field Championships next month in Albuquerque. Four masters exhibitions are set for the meet, but two — the men’s shot and men’s pole vault — are being run by […]

January 12, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  7 Comments

Shhhhh! Masters shot exhibition set for USATF open indoors

News to me: The event schedule for the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships shows a men’s masters shot put exhibition following the previously noted men’s masters pole vault on Sunday, February 28. Of course, the official masters invitational site notes only a men’s 1,000 and women’s 1500 at the Albuquerque meet.  But where did […]

January 12, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  10 Comments

Bernardine Portenski: the best runner you’ve never heard of

If Bernardine Portenski lived in New York, Boston or Los Angeles, she’d be a national hero. Instead, she lives in a place called Wellington on a remote island nation southeast of Australia — and barely rates a whisper in masters track. But she’s the real deal. Last month, when Bernie (as she calls herself) wrote […]

January 12, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments