Archive for September, 2012

Masters sprinter Phil McConkey gets Fox & Friends spotlight

Called a “dedicated patriot,” M55 sprinter Phil McConkey of San Diego was recently featured on Fox News talking about his company, which helps employ military veterans — “the best of the best.” J.P. Morgan is a partner in his financial services firm. Phil talks about the integrity and problem-solving skills in veterans he seeks to […]

September 30, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Bob Lida, Lyn Ventris named IAAF Best Masters of Year 2012

American M75 sprinter Bob Lida will soon be able to say “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore” when he and W55 Aussie star Lyn Ventris are feted at the IAAF Gala in Barcelona as IAAF Best Masters of the Year. WMA today announced the choice of Bob and Lyn as the year’s best masters […]

September 28, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  22 Comments

Suspended M45 Egyptian was busted for impersonating M50

Mohamed Megahed of Egypt, 46, took 14th in the M45 long jump at Sacramento worlds in 2011, going 5.80 meters (19-0 1/2) with a big aiding wind. He wasn’t satisfied with his mark, so he tried again — in M50. He took the bib number of another Egyptian, 54-year-old Shaban Hoseen, and was ninth out […]

September 27, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments

Willie Banks named USATF Athlete of the Week for 6-footer

USATF made a good call today by naming Willie Banks its latest Athlete of the Week for his M55 American record 6-foot high jump. At 56, Willie follows Jeanne Daprano (March 27) and Kevin Castille (April 18) as masters tracksters to gain this honor on 2012. USATF posted: “Banks used a three-step approach and the […]

September 26, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Pete Magill’s good news and bad news: No marathon this year

Pete Magill posted on Facebook: “Well, after deciding this was the year to finally run Twin Cities … I’m not. The legs just haven’t bounced back as quickly from down weeks in July as I’d hoped – at age 51, they’re hardly ‘bouncing’ at all! LOL! So I’m going to run the Runner’s World Half […]

September 25, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

Belated congrats to Jai Black: W50 American record in 400

Saturday’s San Diego Senior Games saw Willie Banks crush a high jump AR and Christa Bortignon take down an 80-meter hurdles WR (but not the 200, as we learned today. See below). But results also show W50 Jai Black running 61.96 in the 400. That’s just off the listed American record of 61.89 by Phil […]

September 24, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  12 Comments

WMA suspends Egyptian jumper 2 years for lying about his age

Athletes have been fibbing about their marks forever, but when you lie about your age, that’s a Bozo No-No. WMA Secretary Winston Thomas reports that on July 25, Mohamed Megahed of Egypt was disqualified from representing any national federation “in any official capacity at any WMA Masters sanctioned events for a period of 2 years” […]

September 24, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

Willie Banks soars 6 feet at 56; Christa adds two more WRs

Willie Banks, the USATF director and Hall of Famer, says he prepared for the high jump at the San Diego Senior Olympics by — losing weight. Looks like it helped. After slimming down from 203 to 183 pounds this year, he straddled 1.83 meters (6 feet 0) to beat Jim Barrineau’s 1.80 American record from […]

September 22, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  16 Comments

Pat Fahy’s father-daughter marathon memoir gets Kirkus review

Pat Fahy, a longtime masters track honcho in Arizona, ran the Boston Marathon with his daughter Emmie in 2009. Now he’s produced a book on the journey called “Go Father, Go Daughter,” which has been reviewed by Kirkus Indie Reviews. Pat appreciated the review’s reference of his “deft rendering of the Masters track sub-culture.” He […]

September 20, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

Sandy Pashkin voted head of Americas/Caribbean WMA region

World Masters Athletics reports: “On the occasion of the recent regional championships in Zittau (GER) and in St. John (CAN), the delegates of EVAA and NCCWMA elected new presidents. While Kurt Kaschke (GER) followed Dieter Massin as president, Sandy Pashkin (USA) took over the chair of Brian Keaveney in NCCWMA.” So now we know what […]

September 19, 2012   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments