Archive for January, 2015

Jeff Hollobaugh using Kickstarter for book: ‘How to Race the Mile’

Michigan’s Jeff Hollobaugh, a track writer and statmeister friend of mine for two decades, is raising money in advance of his upcoming book “How to Race the Mile.” He says it will be out in April. He’s using Kickstarter to raise $3,000 for cover design and more photos. “This is an indie publishing project,” he […]

January 22, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Chris ‘Cardiac’ Wallace putting his heart into masters comeback

M55 jumper Chris Wallace of Arizona (unrelated to the Fox newsman or Mike Wallace) is profiled in his local paper, mainly celebrating his comeback from heart surgery. But Chris says some salient things: “You have a heart attack and it kind of brings the reality that there might not be tomorrow, so you just start […]

January 21, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Belgian Benoit Simonet tops masters fields at Pole Vault Summit

Benoit Simonet of Belgium, 40, jumped 4.45 meters (14-7 1/4) as the best 40-and-over entrant at the National Pole Vault Summit on Friday in Reno. Benoit won M35 at Winston-Salem nationals (after winning Belgian nationals three times, we’re told here.) His PR is 5.32 (17-5 1/2). Top M35 gent appears to be Kody Pierce, who […]

January 20, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  6 Comments

Amy Acuff shooting for 6th Olympics and W40 world record in HJ

In her first competition since 2012, Amy Acuff high-jumped Saturday at an all-comers meet near home in Austin, Texas, clearing 1.82 (5-11 1/2). Not bad for a lady who turns 40 in July. She hopes to be the Jeff Hartwig of 2016. Jeff made the 2008 Beijing team at age 40, vaulting an M40 world […]

January 19, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments

This computes very well: Ed Whitlock, Alan Turing in same results

When I noted Enigma-cracker Alan Turing’s running talents, I had no idea one of my readers would confirm it via personal experience. Turns out Turing ran at the same 1949 meet as a young Ed Whitlock, the future Canadian marathon legend. Ed sent me a page from the Walton Athletic Club gazette. “Note, I was […]

January 18, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

I’m a free agent again — laid off for the third time since June 2010

Like injuries in masters track, layoffs are an occupational hazard. Friday afternoon, I was let go at Francis Parker School. After 24 years at The San Diego Union-Tribune and three years at Patch, I worked only six months at Parker, an elite private school in San Diego. I enjoyed the work, made many friends and […]

January 17, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  12 Comments

Anselm LeBourne takes down Nolan Shaheed WR in M55 mile

Five days after claiming an M55 WR in the indoor 1500, Anselm LeBourne did a number on the mile best, clocking an incredible 4:37.05 at an Armory meet Friday afternoon in Manhattan. [Correction follows] USATF doesn’t list the Gotham Cup as sanctioned, but as an NCAA-affiliated meet his mark should be accepted. The listed WR […]

January 16, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  13 Comments

Vancouver makes it official: First Americas Masters Games in 2016

As telegraphed in October 2013, the Americas Masters Games are coming to Vancouver in 2016. A month ago, the word became official. “The 2016 Americas Masters Games will be the first regional Masters Game to be held in the Americas, with Europe currently being the only other regional Masters Games,” says the press release. The […]

January 16, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

‘Enigma’ cracker Alan Turing was M35 star before masters running

Alan Turing, whose code-breaking early computer helped the Allies defeat Germany, was a world-class distance man. He’s shown running in “The Imitation Game,” now up for eight Academy Awards. But in the wake of his homosexuality conviction, he killed himself in 1954 at age 42. Still, according to his biographer, “Alan Turing achieved world-class marathon […]

January 15, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Happy premature birthday to Christel Donley, new W80 threat

Christel Donley of Colorado turns 80 on Jan. 20, but I can’t wait to share this newspaper story. What can you say about Christel? She’s a world champ, WR-setter and Hall of Famer (from way back in 1997). She also commutes as a meet director to Pasadena every year for the Senior Games there and […]

January 14, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  11 Comments