Archive for July, 2014

Hall of Famer Tom Patsalis dies at 92; jumper set 26 world records

Hall of Famer Tom Patsalis died Wednesday night — two months after a stroke, reports coach Mark Cleary, his friend and SoCal Track Club teammate. Tom, who set more than than two dozen world records in jumps and hurdles between age 52 and 70, was 92. “He had a stroke about 2 months ago and […]

July 31, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  16 Comments

M90s stole thunder of Southwest Sprinters TC 4×4 world record

In my hyperventilated excitement over witnessing gents in their 90s handling a baton at nonwarp speed, I overlooked a stunning WR at North Carolina nationals. The Southwest Sprinters TC team of Leon Bullard, 40; Blair DeSio, 43; Edward Winslow Jr., 45; and Antwon Dussett, 38, clocked a 3:19.45 to nip the listed M35 world record […]

July 30, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  18 Comments

Call for sites: Who might host 2015 decathlon/heptathlon nats?

Jeff Watry and Bill Murray — decathletes and meet organizers — are taking over for the ill Rex Harvey in handling USATF combined-event meets (aka decathlon, heptathlon, indoor multis, etc.) Bill will handle the decathlon and Jeff will continue running the indoor heptathlon. Now they need your help: “We are looking for a site willing […]

July 29, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Pete Magill’s magnum opus: ‘Build Your (Masters) Running Body’

Published today, “Build Your Running Body” is Pete Magill’s greatest contribution to masters track. And that’s saying a lot. Mr. 5K-Record-Holder-Running-Times-Columnist-Cross-Country-Champ-Who-Blogs-And-Coaches is already a legend. His tome is subtitled “A total-body fitness plan for all distance runners from milers to ultramarathoners,” but I would add — “and even for the wrinkled, spotted and balding.” It […]

July 29, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

6-foot jumpers after 50 are rare; how about 2 in a few minutes?

I remember looking up to 6-foot high jumpers when I was high school freshman. Soon I lost the awe and cleared 6-1 eventually (in hurdler spikes). But the amazement returns in masters track, especially for guys over 50. Matt McCubbins shares my appreciation for the species. He’s shared a link to a YouTube video he […]

July 28, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Peter Taylor announces own grade at North Carolina nationals

Peter Taylor shares his masters nationals experience in his latest diary (see an earlier one) of a meet announcer. He writes: “I took almost no notes, but I do remember some things about the nationals in Winston-Salem, North Carolina’s fourth-largest city. I didn’t compete in any events, however, and thus I’m hoping that some athletes […]

July 27, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  13 Comments

N.C. nationals meet director invites critiques — pro and con

Noel Ruebel, an experienced masters multi-eventer, learned at North Carolina nationals that being a meet director requires similar skills. Gotta be a multi-tasker. When he spoke at the Athletes Banquet last Saturday night (see video) at the site of 2015 indoor nationals, he told of how he leaned against doing the onerous job again. But […]

July 26, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  15 Comments

An M55 800 WR for Anselm LeBourne? What about earlier one?

Now I’m really confused. In mid-June Anselm LeBourne posted to Facebook that he had run 2:01.63 for 800 at a New York Road Runners Speed Series meet. This week, he posted that he’d set a “new official world record in the men’s 800 meters for 55-59 years old at long island USATF track meet. Ran […]

July 25, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  7 Comments

Meiler by a mile: Flo is USATF Athlete of the Week for nationals

It’s always hard to pick out the star of a meet as high-powered as nationals, but USATF on Wednesday made a solid selection in W80 Flo Meiler. Following tradition, the standout American at outdoor nats is Athlete of the Week. How did Flo-Go rate the honor? How’s this for starters: 8 gold medals, 6 silver […]

July 24, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  9 Comments

M90 relay WRs were years in the making, changed members

By now, the world knows about B-Day at North Carolina nationals, when five members of the Greatest Generation united to handle batons in the first-ever world records in the M90 outdoor relays — 4×100, 4×400 and 4×800. ESPN’s SportsCenter featured Sunday’s events (and video). (Look for me in white backward ballcap taking pictures at finish […]

July 23, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments