Archive for January, 2013

Altendorf on ‘one of the most exciting experiences of my … career’

John Altendorf is 66 and doesn’t have the energy of a 16-year-old. He just jumps as high as one. How does one vault 12-8 under such conditions? Very wisely, it turns out. John graciously responded to my request for details on his indoor WR at the Pole Vault Summit in Reno. John writes: “A vaulter, […]

January 23, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Puerto Rico Masters Grand Prix (with prize $$$) set for September

Saying he has the full support of his federation and the interest of local government, long hurdler Tony Echeandia has announced another try at a Puerto Rico Masters Grand Prix meet. In June 2012, he reported the meet in Mayaguez was canceled after only 40 signed up. Now, Tony says local authorities “are asking to […]

January 22, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

Bruce McBarnette claims best in M55 high jump, indoors or out

Sorry, milers. This weekend belonged to the vertical jumpers. Besides John Altendorf and his M65 WR in the vault at the Pole Vault Summit in Reno, we’ve been informed that Jill Starkey jumped 3.52 (11-6 1/2) at the same venue for a W40 American record, topping the listed mark of 3.50 (11-5¾”) by Brenda Bumgardner […]

January 21, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  17 Comments

Brad Barton plans another try at M45 indoor mile WR in Boston

After coming pretty close to John Hinton’s M45 indoor mile world record 4:20.18) at Boise State, Brad Barton informs us that he’ll try again Feb. 2, writing: “I sure appreciate the encouragement and guidance I’ve received from your blog followers. I have been in contact with Steve Vaitones and he has invited me to Boston […]

January 20, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

John Altendorf ups M65 world indoor record at Pole Vault Summit

World champion John Altendorf took fourth Saturday in the masters event at the Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nevada. But at 66, he was king of the hill by clearing 3.86 meters (12-8) and crushing the listed M65 world indoor record of 3.72 (12-2 1/2) by fellow American Arthur Parry in 2011. (John jumped an […]

January 20, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  6 Comments

Brad Barton falls short in WR mile bid at Boise State indoor mile

Running against collegiate kiddies Saturday, Brad Barton fell 1.4 seconds short of the listed M45 indoor world record in the mile, clocking 4:21.58 at the Bronco Invitational at Boise State University, according to these meet results. That race overshadowed the M40 debut of Scott Weeks, who won the M40 elite mile at Saturday’s Hartshorne Memorial […]

January 20, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Flu takes toll on Hartshorne Mile fields, but big names still entered

Today (Saturday) brings the 46th racing of the Hartshorne Memorial Masters Mile at Barton Hall, Cornell University.  Organizer Tom Hartshorne, son of the namesake Jim, sent me heat sheets and wrote: “As you can see, we have lost a number entrants in the last day and many more earlier in the week primarily due to […]

January 19, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

M45 miler Brad Barton seeks sub-4:20 indoor world record Saturday

Brad Barton, 46, has his sights set on taking down John Hinton’s M45 indoor mile WR of 4:20.18, set at the Hartshorne Miles in 2008. But Brad isn’t entered at this weekend’s Hartshorne meet in Ithaca, New York. Instead, he’ll try to go sub-4:20 at a meet in Idaho — at Boise State University. In […]

January 17, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  11 Comments

Terry Pliner dies at 74; longtime coach set relay record at Lisle

Terry Pliner, a longtime Wisconsin coach who did a range of events, died Jan. 7, three days before his 75th birthday, reports Bob Osterhoudt. Bob writes: “Shortly after we last saw Terry at Nationals, he suffered a recurrence of his lymphoma/melanoma, stood another surgery in respect to it, passed through an experimental drug program to […]

January 13, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  9 Comments

Steve Robbins to head panel reviewing USATF masters records drill

Friday morning, Gary Snyder sent me a note announcing a major effort to revamp our records process. Gary wrote: “I’ve appointed Steve Robbins to chair a special committee to review the records process and rules. The committee will have their first meeting via conference call in the near future and begin working on recommendations for […]

January 11, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments