Archive for August, 2014

Gia Lewis-Smallwood sets discus AR at 35; masters snub next?

Can there be any doubt that Gia Lewis-Smallwood holds the W35 American record in the discus? If other mammoth heaves since turning 35 in April weren’t proof enough, she did us all a favor Saturday in Valence, France. As reported by her alma mater, Gia “set a new American record in the discus at the […]

August 31, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  8 Comments

W85 Rachel Hanssens of Belgium may be next Olga Kotelko

Rachel Hanssens is no stranger to world records, but in the past two months, she’s outdone herself — and even the legendary Olga Kotelko. Belgium’s Rachel beat the listed Olga record in the throws pentathlon — twice. First was in early July and again (but lower score) at the Eurovets meet in Turkey. According to […]

August 30, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

USATF nominates Bill Collins, Joy Upshaw for IAAF Best Masters

Mary Trotto has tallied votes of her USATF Masters Awards Committee (including mine) and announced that Bill Collins and Joy Upshaw will be America’s nominees for IAAF World Best Masters honors at the end of the year. The WMA Council chooses from among WMA regional picks for the top spots, who get all-expenses-paid trips to […]

August 29, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  33 Comments

Dethroned recordman Phil Fehlen reacts to new M65 HJ WR

Former Marine Phil Fehlen, whose 1.66 world record in the M65 high jump had lasted since 2000 Eugene nationals, was a trooper Wednesday when I informed him of the new WR of 1.67 (5-5 3/4) by Dusan Prezelj of Slovenia at the Eurovets meet in Turkey. Phil, a fellow San Diego County resident, wrote me: […]

August 28, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  6 Comments

Jo Pavey wins 10K European gold, then faces laundry chores

Jo Pavey is Supermom. In a wonderful column for The Telegraph in Britain, Jo couldn’t be more down-to-earth if she ate dirt. She writes: “We’ve been away a lot recently, first in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games and then in Zurich for the European Championships, where I won Gold in the 10,000m. You should see […]

August 27, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Germans dominate WMA Eurovets, year’s biggest masters meet

Squirrel! While distracted by Costa Rica regionals, I’ve neglected the biggest masters meet of 2014 — the European WMA regionals in Turkey. Results have been posted for four days at this neato-keeno site. I’m hoping y’all visit your age groups and events and report here the best marks you see. World records are being tallied […]

August 26, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  7 Comments

6 golds apiece to Carter, Upshaw, Black at WMA Costa Rica

Rob Jerome writes from San Jose, Costa Rica, and WMA regionals: “The competition is over. … Ann Carter and Ivan Black ended up being among the most decorated female and male American participants in the competition. Ann won six W70 gold medals (pentathlon, long jump, high jump, triple jump, 100 meters, 200 meters), a silver medal in the […]

August 25, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  7 Comments

Toronto, Cardiff, Barcelona among bidders for 2018 WMA worlds

Athletics Weekly reported Saturday: “Britain is to bid to host the World Masters Track and Field Championships in Cardiff in 2018. British Masters Athletic Federation (BMAF) honorary secretary Bridget Cushen said Cardiff had been chosen after internal UK competition. Cardiff City, Welsh Athletics, Run4Wales and Cardiff University are all keen to help with the bid. […]

August 24, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Joe Smith scorches an out-of-nowhere 10.92 WR for 100 at 58?

Paging Willie Gault! If a mark at WMA regionals is to be believed, you have some competition in the over-50 sprints. According to semifinal results Friday, 58-year-old Joseph “Joe” Smith ran the 100 in a wind-legal 10.92 seconds. Say what? That’s a half-second better than the listed M55 world record of 11.44 by that snail […]

August 23, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  45 Comments

Americans already winning gold at Costa Rica WMA regionals

Rob Jerome, masterful masters photographer, writes Thursday from Central America: “Thought I would touch base with you from NCCWMA San Jose, Costa Rica. The action starts early each day (7 AM) and concludes in the early afternoon in order to avoid the daily late afternoon rains. Temperatures during competition today were in the 70s. Very […]

August 22, 2014   Posted in: Uncategorized  10 Comments