Archive for August, 2015

Team USA final count at Lyon was 160 medals (57 of them gold)

Bob Weiner and Mary Trotto, apparently with little help from the LOC, crunched the numbers at Lyon worlds and came up with Team USA winning 160 medals, including 57 golds. Flo Meiler at 81 is taking 10 medals home to Vermont, including golds in 2K steeple, short relay, vault, triple jump and hep, where she […]

August 18, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  10 Comments

Don Pellmann turns M100, may try for more records this summer

Ten years ago, Don Pellmann of the S.F. Bay Area was rewriting the M90 record books. When I asked him about his future, he replied: “I see the really old guys (90s and over) that still try (and) do so miserably, that almost any effort can win. I feel it is time to ‘Hang them […]

August 17, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

U.S. W80 teams shatter relay world records on Lyon’s final day

At least six world records were set in relays Sunday at Lyon worlds, including two by American 80-plus ladies in the 4-by-1 and 4-by-4. In the short relay, Christel Donley, Flo Meiler, Fei-Mei Chou and Irene Obera clocked 1:21.06 to demolish the listed WR of 1:49.15 by a Canadian team including Olga Kotelko in 2008. […]

August 16, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

France, UK, Germany and USA to battle for Lyon relay dominance

Sunday in Lyon is Relays Day as the 21st World Masters Athletics Championships conclude. The medal count as of Aug. 12 showed this order overall: Germany, France, UK and USA. I’m looking for great things from the French women, who could be anchored by “Super-Nicole” Alexis in W55 (or a younger group if needed.) Results […]

August 15, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  8 Comments

David Heath, Melitta Czerwenka-Nagel star with WRs in 1500

David Heath and Anselm LeBourne will meet in the IAAF Beijing 800 exhibition in two weeks, but it looks like David is a front-runner for gold. Friday in Lyon, the brilliant Brit clocked 4:01.54 in the metric mile at age 50. That crushed one of the oldest world records on the books — the 4:05.2 […]

August 14, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments

Rachel Guest is USA’s W40 lion of Lyon with American hep record

Liz Palmer is a connoisseur of fine wines — and masters athletes. She reminded me of the wonderful worlds Rachel Guest is having. She’s been on my radar, but I haven’t had a chance to do her justice. Liz helped me, providing this summary: “Rachel Guest turned 40 in April and turned her attention to […]

August 13, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  9 Comments

Back to Spain in 2018: Delegates pick Málaga for outdoor worlds

According to Spanish media, the southern city of Málaga has been chosen to host outdoor worlds in 2018. The city of 570,000 outpolled a bid from the Venice region of Italy in Thursday’s General Assembly in Lyon. This reflects the sentiment of our poll. Malaga won by a vote of 98 to 25, WMA source […]

August 13, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  19 Comments

Joy Upshaw makes dad, and all of us, proud of her silver in 300H

Joy Upshaw’s dad, Monte, long-jumped 25-4 1/4 for Piedmont High School in 1954, breaking the national high school record set by a gent named Jesse Owens. Less well-known: Monte beat future Olympic decathlon legend Rafer Johnson in the 180-yard low hurdles in that same California state meet (but losing to Rafer in the 120 highs). […]

August 12, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

Lyon video nice, but where’s handbook for the General Assembly?

The YouTube description says: “Video clip in tribute to sprint and middle-distances runners. Pierre Coquelle for the World Masters Athletics Championships – LYON 2015. Music by Tobu.” Digital and social media are doing a great job of piecemeal coverage (especially on Facebook), but I’m dismayed that after days of inquiries, I can’t get a digital […]

August 11, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

Wilson loses 300H to Haywood, but not bronze, thanks to UK rival

At 2013 worlds, Thad Wilson won the M60 300 hurdles, with fellow American George Haywood third. Tuesday in Lyon, they swapped places, with George taking gold in 45.31. But Thad had to fight for bronze well after he finished in 45.91 — a half-second behind Ian Broadhurst of Britain. Credit my UK photographer friend Tom […]

August 11, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  16 Comments