Archive for September, 2013

WMA president, others slam Sacramento worlds in 2013 report

Critics of Sacramento worlds were legion. But we weren’t alone. Today we learned that the top officers of World Masters Athletics faulted their flagship event as well. WMA President Stan Perkins of Australia writes in his 2013 report to the Porto Alegre General Assembly: “This championship had promised so much, but in several areas it […]

September 10, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Jim Hite dies at 79; Atlanta Track Club leader was middle-distancer

Sad news from Georgia. The USATF Georgia Association and the Augusta Chronicle report the death of Jim Hite, an active official and athlete in the Atlanta Track Club. “Jim Hite, Millen, GA, served the association in many capacities — as an official, a master athlete, board member, coach and friend,” USATF reports. “Jim Hite was […]

September 9, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments

Olympic champs get water bottles after races, but masters can’t?

This really chaps my hide. Watching today’s NBC replay of IAAF Diamond League meet in Brussels, I saw chilled water bottles being handed world-class athletes after their runs. Among them was Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the female Usain Bolt. But according to USADA and the ever-vigilant officials at Olathe masters nationals, athletes in races under 5K have […]

September 8, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  9 Comments

Hip, hip, hooray for Kay Glynn and beginning of surgery recovery

W60 star Kay Glynn is the masters track embodiment of Diana “Never Ever Give Up!” Nyad. Kay’s dream was to stay in the game. But a year and a half ago, she feared her vaulting-hurdling-throwing career was over at 59. She reported having dysplasia and the need for a total hip replacement. A week ago […]

September 7, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  9 Comments

7 pacesetters help Emma Mazzenga set W80 WR at 400 meters

A month after turning 80, Emma Mazzenga ran 400 meters at an elite meet in Padua, Italy. (See results here.) In front of 6,000 people September 1 and with seven pacers, Emma clocked 1:31.21, crushing the listed W80 WR of 1:40.45 by American Polly Clarke in 1990 but also a pending mark of 1:35.76 by […]

September 6, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Rugenstein psyched herself for WR mile by watching Billy Mills 10K

Laurie Rugenstein, who beat the listed W65 mile world record in August, said it was “king of crazy to take up track at age 60” back in 2008. She was a road runner training for the Boston Marathon but pulled a hammie in late March, “which changed that plan.” Her masters-friendly coach in Boulder, Colorado, […]

September 5, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  8 Comments

Laurie Rugenstein lowers W65 world record in mile by 3 seconds

Only two women are listed as competing in the mile at the Mid-America Region Masters Championships (aka 33rd Annual Rocky Mountain Masters Games) Aug. 24-25 at 5,000-foot-elevation Colorado State University in Ft. Collins. Laurie Rugenstein edged Valerie Eipper, 6:13.00 to 6:16.41, according to results sent me today. But look again. Laurie is 65 and Valerie […]

September 2, 2013   Posted in: Uncategorized  24 Comments