Archive for March, 2014

Olga Kotelko went bonkers in Budapest (nine W95 world records)

In the 2010 movie “Herbstgold,” Italy’s Gabre Gabric is shown being peeved at Lahti worlds. She got beat in the W90 discus by Canada’s Olga Kotelko. But Olga stole the scene by comforting her rival and reminding her that, at 94, Gabre gave away a few years. Gabre got her revenge this week. In 10 […]

March 31, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  7 Comments

USATF offer: First-timers can get ‘grants’ to attend N.C. nationals

At 2013 Olathe nationals, Masters National Chairman Gary Snyder proposed a program that would pay travel and lodging expenses to 2014 outdoor masters nationals for first-time competitors. In the wonderful April issue of National Masters News, the offer was announced (top right of page 13). It’s unclear how much the “incentive” grants are. But here’s […]

March 30, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  10 Comments

One-lap wonders: WRs to Del Grande, Mazzenga and Kotelko

I’ve lost count of the world records at Budapest worlds, with Canada’s Olga Kotelko and Karla Del Grande and Italy’s Emma Mazzenga setting new standards in the 200s Friday. (An earlier posting incorrectly said Guido MĂĽller set a WR, too. Oops, my bad. Bob Lida’s record of 27.64 is still best.) But I can’t overlook […]

March 29, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  10 Comments

Penn Relays entry deadline is April 4 for masters relays, sprints

Phil Felton is circulating entry forms for Penn Relays masters events. He sent me this info sheet two weeks ago, but it fell through the cracks. Sorry. But at least we have a week before the April 4 deadline. Hope the folks in Budapest see this. Phil, reprising his longtime role as Penn masters coordinator, […]

March 28, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments

800 recordfest in Budapest: Earl Fee, Alice Cole and Clare Elms

Earl Fee, the Canadian hurdle/middle-distances legend, put another notch in his belt at Budapest — an M85 world indoor record for 800 meters. His time of 3:11.09 Friday crushed the listed WR of 3:30.95 by Sweden’s Holger Joseffson in 2004. Earl turned 85 only days before the meet, and basically ran alone in his age […]

March 28, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Masters Madness: WMA website snores while athletes go all-world

March Madness is under way. And the NCAA homepage is all over it. Meanwhile, Budapest worlds are halfway done, and the lead item on the WMA website is: Updated Budapest Schedule (22.03.2014). Come again? No news of world records set, Olga Kotelko’s W95 debut, incredible turnout (nearly 4,000 from 70 nations)? So here goes my […]

March 27, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  7 Comments

Antonio Palacios injury at Budapest reminds us of masters resilience

American Antonio Palacios was favored to win the M45 triple jump at Budapest, but he pulled a hamstring on the first jump and Russians swept the medals. But photographer Rob Jerome was so taken by Antonio’s effort that he sent these two shots. “Injuries are almost an inevitable part of this sport,” Rob writes, “and […]

March 27, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Rita Hanscom claims silver as oldest in W55 pentathlon field

Thanks to all-world athlete Rita Hanscom and all-star photograher Robert Jerome, I double-dip today for Budapest news. Rob sent me a great shot of Rita over the pentathlon high jump bar on her way to silver in W55. She’s only a couple months shy of 60, too. See my post at Times of San Diego. […]

March 26, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  13 Comments

M35 pentathlon WR kicks off Budapest world indoor championships

Bully for Budapest. LOC is using tried-and-true system for posting results. See results here for Day 1, which includes the men’s and women’s pentathlon. First WR at worlds may be M35 Oscar Gonzalez of Spain in the pentathlon, according to a Facebook posting by Andres Martinez. (Results site is lagging, though.) Monday was opening ceremonies, […]

March 25, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments

Bob Hunt dies at 93; Masters Hall of Famer and HS coaching icon

Robert “Bob” Hunt, a world-class hurdler in his 50s and 60s inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame in 2004, died Saturday at an Anaheim hospital in Southern California, his son said. He was 93. David Hunt told me by phone tonight that his father competed in 20 countries and even tackled the decathlon. […]

March 24, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  8 Comments