Archive for June, 2012

M50 Roald Bradstock takes 2nd in British Olympic trials javelin

Four years ago, some USATF bigwigs were laughing at Roald Bradstock in his colorful suits throwing hand-painted javelins after sneaking into the U.S. Olympic Trials. Today, at age 50, he threw in the British Olympic Trials — and took second! His mark of 72.78 meters (238-9) on his first attempt is marked as a season […]

June 23, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  10 Comments

World-record M35 relayist launches REgel for muscle soreness

Thachvu “Thac” Ho, who helped an American M35 team set a W35 world record in the 4×1 at Sacramento worlds, has announced the launch of a product he hopes will help his fellow masters. He calls it REgel, “which is a new topical gel that helps relieve pain, repair injuries, and recover from workouts faster,” […]

June 21, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  26 Comments

Packed fields for Olympic Trials masters exhibitions June 30

So I’m packed for Eugene, and can’t wait to start my quadrennial adventure. This will be my eighth Trials or Olympics since 1984. Gotta stay in the game. And besides the kiddie events, I’m looking forward to the women’s 400 and men’s 200 masters events June 30. Favorites appear to be Allen Woodard and Lisa […]

June 20, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

Brit Whiteman lowers own M40 WR in 800 to 1:48.22 in Indiana

Somehow I missed this result from June 6: Tony Whiteman ran 800 meters in 1:48.22 in Indianapolis, lowering his previous M40 best of 1:48.28 from May. We learn from Kent Online: “Former GEC Avionics middle distance star Anthony Whiteman set a new M40 800m world record…. Whiteman, who recently became the first man aged over […]

June 19, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

Christa Bortignon adds 200-meter hurdles record to W75 collection

Running in miserable weather, Christa Bortignon of Canada nipped the listed world record in the W75 200-meter hurdles over the weekend. Her time of 41.70 was just ahead of the listed WR of 41.71 by Barbara Jordan at 2011 Sacramento worlds. And she ran it into a 2.8 meters per second headwind! Christa writes: “It […]

June 18, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  6 Comments

Nolan Shaheed debuts at 2K steeple with M60 American record

Results haven’t been posted as of late Saturday night, but we hear that Nolan Shaheed ran the 2,000-meter steeplechase in 7:09.91 at the USATF Southern California Association masters championships at Caltech in Pasadena. The listed M60 American record is 7:21.09 by David Taylor at 2010 Sacramento nationals. The listed world record is 6:30.21 by New […]

June 16, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  20 Comments

Alex Ratelle dies at 87; best masters runner you never heard of

I pride myself on having a clue. But when word arrived that Alex Ratelle had passed June 10, I was ignorant as the day is long. Of course, Alex stuck to the roads. But his running is legend, as I learned from his recent obituary. He was a part of masters track history, though, as […]

June 16, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  6 Comments

Update: Seeking roomie for dorms June 21-28 at Olympic Trials

I’m covering the Eugene Olympic Trials in late June for Patch.com and have reservations in a dorm near Hayward Field. My wife, Chris, will stay with me the final three nights (June 29-30 and July 1). But I can share the room with someone else (male nonsmoker) the nights of June 21-28. (My first roomie […]

June 15, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  6 Comments

Weight throw record (and paperwork) claimed by Myrle Mensey

Myrle Mensey, a thrower who specializes in hammer and weight, shares this photo of her holding paperwork for a W60 American record in the 12-pound weight. She improved her own AR from 16.63 meters (54-6) to 17.03 (55-10 1/4). The record came at the Missouri State Senior Games at the University of Missouri in Columbia […]

June 13, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  12 Comments

Jerry Smartt dies at 80; distance runner was the coolest cat of all

This hurts to report. Our friend Jerry Smartt, the former world-class distance runner who became a regular at nationals and worlds with his bandanna, died Tuesday at his home in Warsaw, Missouri. (Here is his official obituary.) This sad news first came from several friends as well as USATF national masters chairman Gary Snyder. Jerry […]

June 12, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  25 Comments