Archive for June, 2011

Seeking a rider for car trip from Sacramento to SoCal after worlds

I’m driving home from Sacramento to San Diego on Monday, July 18 — the day after end of worlds. Anyone want to hop a ride? I have one passenger already but have room for a third person in the car. I also posted this to the Forum. You can use the Forum for similar ride-sharing […]

June 30, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

National Senior Games generates gobs of older age-group records

National Masters News, which got a wonderful print redesign this month, offered a great summary of records set at Humble, Texas, at the National Senior Games last week. I haven’t checked the accuracy or completeness of this list, but it’s amazing what our elites did in the headwind conditions. With USATF partnering with NSGA for […]

June 30, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  10 Comments

It was inevitable: Topic takes M40 high jump world record to 7-3

This has been foreseen for years. Five-time Olympian Dragutin Topic has claimed the world record in the M40 high jump, clearing a mammoth 2.21 meters (7-3). Milan Jamrich sent along this story and link: “KRAGUJEVAC (SRB, Jun 25, 2011): Former European champion Dragutin Topic cleared here 221 cm at age of 40 what is new […]

June 29, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  9 Comments

Merlene Ottey, 51, aims for Daegu IAAF worlds on Slovenia relay

According to the website of the next IAAF worlds (starting in late August), Merlene Ottey has a shot at competing in her umpteenth world meet—at age 51! She doesn’t have a sprint time anywhere near the qualifying standard, however, so she’s hoping to go as a members of the 4×1 relay team for Slovenia. her […]

June 29, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  16 Comments

M55 newbie David Albo looks to Sacto, can’t be quoted on Whitlock

Nice little confection from the Boulder newspaper in Colorado, where distance runners gain certain high-altitude advantages. Columnist Mike Sandrock profiled M55 newbie David Albo: “Turning 55, you are a baby, which is a good thing. It means you are the youngest guy in the race, instead of being 54 and racing guys who are 50. […]

June 28, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments

Austrian woman becomes oldest to clear 4 meters in the pole vault

As recently as 1992, a jump of 4.05 meters (13-3 1/2) in the women’s vault was a world record. Now it’s commonplace for collegians. But 4-meter clearances are still the Holy Grail of masters track, and this month a 40-year-old Austrian became the oldest to jump that. She did it several times, according to the […]

June 27, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

M80 Ed Whitlock’s plans for Sacto: ‘Have a go’ at 1500 world record

Ed Whitlock, who sets M80 records at will these days, replied a few days back to my latest inquisition. I wanted to know more about his 5K and 10K track world records at Canada’s masters nationals. He graciously replied: “Weather for 10 was pleasantly warm with slight intermittent breeze. Plan was to run 1:45 per […]

June 27, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Paaso, Berra claim masters exhibition titles at USA open nationals

Kris Paaso won the 3000 and Nick Berra took the 1500 at masters exhibitions at USA open nationals today. Kris ran Joy Upshaw sent along some shots from the stands at the USATF open nationals at Hayward Field in Eugene. Top is the finish of the masters men’s 1500 and the bottom is near the […]

June 26, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  16 Comments

Peter Taylor won’t be part of announcing crew at Sacto worlds

A major American masters meet without Peter Taylor behind the microphone is almost unthinkable, but Sacramento worlds will feature a half-dozen announcers — none named Peter Taylor. As Pete mentioned in a comment recently, he’s not ticketed for worlds. He writes me: “On March 30, 2011, I received by e-mail an application to officiate at […]

June 26, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  33 Comments

Newlyweds watching a masters meet: Anything more romantic?

Leo Sanders and Theresa, his bride of almost five months, were among the spectators at yesterday’s Chuck McMahon Memorial Masters Meet at Cal State San Marcos north of San Diego. Normally he’d be piling up sprint medals. But he said he recently broke a few ribs mountain biking at nearby Lake Hodges. He says he […]

June 26, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  8 Comments