Archive for November, 2010

Hall of Fame runner Archie Messenger saluted on Veterans Day

Archie Messenger, inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame in 2001, was the subject of a Veterans Day profile in his Massachusetts hometown newspaper. He hasn’t been ranked for about six years, but he’s still a legend. The bulk of the story is about his military career. But we also learn: “He would continue […]

November 12, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Geb rethinking his retirement, but says nothing about masters

Haile Gebrsellasie made a retirement announcement after dropping out at Mile 16 of the New York City Marathon. But recent reports suggests that he’s having second thoughts, reading Tweets as tea leaves. We also learn from his manager: “Jos Hermans said he was hoping that the legendary Ethiopian distance runner will reconsider his decision to […]

November 11, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

Irish Times uses ‘masters’ and ‘Gebrselassie’ in the same breath

Distance God Haile Gebrselassie — world record holder in the marathon — is mentioned in a masters context in the Irish Times. The story notes: “Strictly speaking, Gebrselassie now qualifies as a veteran — or a “masters” runner, to give them their more correct title. And believe me, masters running can be every bit as […]

November 10, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Dexter McCloud responds to comments on Diversity Committee

Dexter McCloud, newsletter publisher of the USATF Committee on Diversity and Leadership Development, has responded to the comments posted on this blog. Dexter, a world-class M50 hurdler, writes: “As you are aware, I was appointed as the Masters Diversity Chair in 2006 by then Masters chair George Matthews. Since that time, I have spoken on […]

November 9, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  15 Comments

Masters media czar Bob Weiner debates GOP flak on Fox TV

Bob Weiner, a nominee (along with moi) for the David Pain Award for service to masters track, appeared this morning on Fox TV’s “Fox and Friends” segment, interviewed by Dana Perino. See it here. Bob’s day job is with Robert Weiner Associates Public Affairs and Issue Strategies shop on Pennsylvania Avenue, not far from the […]

November 8, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  8 Comments

Give Allen Johnson, Stacy Dragila free pass to Sacramento worlds

The December issue of Track & Field News features a nice career profile of retiring M35 hurdler Allen Johnson and an itsy bitsy status report on vaulter Stacy Dragila, who turns 40 in March 2011. T&FN says of Stacy, an Olympic champ like Allen: “Vault pioneer Stacy Dragila is considering trying to qualify for the […]

November 8, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  13 Comments

U.S. records set at nationals and worlds automatic? Not quite yet

USATF delegates meeting at Virginia Beach next month have a boatload of rules-change proposals to consider. But one should be a slam dunk. Under Item 83, submitted by New England’s Steve Vaitones, a new rule would say: “When a Masters Record has been equaled or bettered in a World Masters (Athletics) Championship, a USA Masters […]

November 7, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  10 Comments

Tom Phillips takes positive step against illness: admits depression

Nine months ago, I posted a note about a masters athlete with severe depression. Your comments, public and private, helped. Now the athlete has decided to tell his own story — on his own blog. His name is Tom Phillips. And besides being one of the best masters track photographers in the world, he’s also […]

November 6, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  8 Comments

First for WMA worlds: Online registration offered for Sacramento

A scene in “Herbstgold,” the German documentary on masters track, shows five older athletes struggling with the print entry form for 2009 Lahti worlds. Kind of cute. But that may be ending for many. For the first time, a WMA world masters championships is offering online registration. Press release from the LOC says: “We’re confident […]

November 4, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Masters have leading presence in USATF’s new diversity website

Some high-profile masters athletes and administrators are part of a USATF project to foster diversity. This means what, exactly? Aren’t we already a pretty diverse sport, ethnically and stuff? For whatever reason, USATF has launched a website devoted to the committee behind this push. And it includes hurdler Dexter McCloud (a friend of USATF President […]

November 3, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  25 Comments