Archive for December, 2011

Masters Hall of Famer Jim Mathis suffering cancerous brain tumor

Jim Mathis, a 2006 inductee into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame, has a brain tumor and is battling medical bills, according to a Memphis TV station. See the report here. “Six week ago, Coach Mathis was bench pressing 260 pounds, ” said Jim Lassandrello, athletic director of St. Agnes-St. Dominic, “but now he’s in […]

December 8, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

My hero: George Haywood for account of Sacto worlds M55 400H

OK, we all know that the 400-meter hurdles is the toughest event in track. And the toughest age group? If you are 55-59 and can still sprint a lap with 10 barriers in the way, you are God. One of these special folks is George Haywood, a teammate of Bill Collins in Houston Elite. George […]

December 8, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  31 Comments

2014 masters nationals in Winston-Salem, N.C., a 6-day meet?

Memo to self: Get in shape by 2014. That’s when I enter the M60 age group. No more excuses for not running the long hurdles, since I’ll be eligible for the 300-meter race that year. And just in case you’re updating your calendar: The 2014 nationals at Wake Forest are set for July 15-20. Yes, […]

December 7, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  15 Comments

Norm Green fesses up to not handing off the Hall of Fame baton

Norm Green, 79, is a masters distance legend and a saint when it comes to the USATF Masters T&F Hall of Fame. He has run the show for nearly 15 years — all by his lonesome. But not having a committee to speak of, or any help beyond the Hall of Fame voters, meant this […]

December 6, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  17 Comments

Winston-Salem to host 2014 outdoor nats; Boston gets indoors

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, beat Tulsa in a run-off to land the 2014 USATF National Masters Outdoor Championships, according to sources in St. Louis at the USATF annual meeting. “Outdoors it was a tie between Tulsa and Winston-Salem,” said my source. “Winston-Salem won on a close tie-breaker vote. Tulsa had an excellent presentation and had a […]

December 3, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  13 Comments

Sandy Pashkin says Kalembo, Singh can kiss records bye-bye

M50 quarter-miler Douglas Kalembo, who ran a sub-50 in 2010, and M100 marathon man Fauja Singh won’t see their names in the record books, thanks to USATF masters record chair Sandy Pashkin raising doubts about their ages. Sandy also blocked WR recognition for Olympians with marks superior to listed age-group records, calling certain elite meets […]

December 3, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  7 Comments

Arnie Gaynor dies at 83; world record thrower, WMA champ

Southern California Striders president Brenda Matthews shares sad news: “With great sadness, I would like to announce the passing one of the greatest masters thrower, Arnie Gaynor. His memorial service will take place on Wednesday, December 7, at 12 noon at Fairhaven Memorial Park—Waverly Chapel, 1702 Fairhaven Ave, Santa Ana. Everyone is invited to join his […]

December 3, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments