Archive for June, 2011

Tony Harlin dedicates M50 shot put record to memory of his dad

Tony Harlin, who took fifth in the 1984 Olympic Trials, broke the M50 American record in the shot Friday, throwing 17.34 meters (56-10½) in a USATF Masters and Junior Olympics qualifier at Monsignor Farrell HS in the Oakwood section of Staten Island. That improved the listed AR of 17.09 (56-0½) by John Nespoli of Tennessee. […]

June 15, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  9 Comments

Decathlon nationals marred by Chris Bates injury; may skip worlds

Chris Bates was on a tear at the national masters decathlon championships in Dallas over the weekend, getting three personal bests (for his age group, I assume). Then disaster struck. “I popped my left hamstring badly on my second attempt at 3.80 in the vault.” He soldiered on in the javelin, however, and threw a […]

June 14, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  11 Comments

M90 seeks world record for ‘1600 meters’ — OK, whatever you say

Strange story in the New Orleans paper. It says an M90 gent named John Boots is training for the world record at 1600 meters. Say what? Did he mean mile? Did he say 1500 meters? Confusing as hell. In any case, John ran the 1500 in 11:50 last year (at a meet where all the […]

June 13, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Mystery illness sidelines Bill Collins — unsure about rest of season

Bill Collins is ill. His status as world’s fastest man over 60 may not be tested this season. In response to a query I sent him last week, he replied: “Thanks … for your concern and everyone in the masters track and field community. Yes, I have been ill; doctors are still not totally sure […]

June 12, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  22 Comments

Valle, Gillespie win masters middle-distances at big Portland meet

Britain native Ian Gillespie, 41, won the masters mile in 4:22.18 and American Lisa Valle took the masters 3,000 yesterday at the Portland Track Festival — in races notable for no-shows as much as their marks. Women’s race organizer Joanna Harper says almost half her field couldn’t come, but “it was still a good race […]

June 12, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

Trent Lane at 101 will be the oldest at Sacramento worlds in July

At Lahti worlds in 2009, the late Alfred Proksch had the honor of being the lone M100 entrant. At Sacramento 2011, that distinction falls to Trent Lane. Like Alfred, Trent is primarily a thrower. I met Trent at Charlotte nationals in 2006 and am thrilled to see him back in the game. He’ll get more […]

June 11, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  8 Comments

National Senior Olympics schedule finally posted (and we have it)

Here’s the schedule for the National Senior Olympics, which came out today — only seven days before the meet opens. That has to be a record for causing frustration. No friends made here, but once you’ve paid your entry fees, what choice ya got? Here’s a link to entrants. They’ll compete, you’ll remember, at Humble, […]

June 10, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  27 Comments

American records may plunge at Portland masters races Saturday

This Saturday at the Portland Track Festival in Oregon, the men’s and women’s masters races have potential to generate a handful of American records. Joanna Harper, organizer of the masters women’s 3000, writes: “Carmen Ayala-Troncoso will be back and might challenge her 10:06 W50 AR set last year in this meet. The most exciting action […]

June 10, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

Paging Mary Decker! Guess who’s running at Sacramento worlds?

Yup, Zola Budd is entered at Sacramento — in the W45 5000 and 8K cross country race. Yowza. She’s a legend for her 5K world record at age 17 (when she ran barefoot) and for a little pileup at the Los Angeles Games 3K with Mary Decker (a race I witnessed in person, BTW). But […]

June 9, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  13 Comments

Tecumseh Peete’s brutally honest mission to spike prostate cancer

Tecumseh Peete of Georgia, a national-class M40 sprinter and M35 relay WR man, shares the sad news that he’ll have to skip major 2011 meets. His reason is sadder. He writes: “Some of you may not have known; in January 2011, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 40. I have been […]

June 8, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  15 Comments