Archive for August, 2015

First week tally at Lyon worlds: USA has 24 golds, 62 medals

Bob Weiner writes from Lyon: “In the first week of the World Masters Athletics Championships ongoing in Lyon, France, the USA team has won 24 golds to date and broken four world masters records and tied one. The team has amassed 62 medals overall. In individual highlights: Bruce McBarnette, 57 (Sterling VA), won his 12th […]

August 10, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

Kathy Bergen claims W75 WR in 200 at Lyon’s Balmont stadium

With the stands practically full Monday, an estimated 4,000 people at Balmont stadium in Lyon cheered sprinters including American Kathy Bergen. And Kathy delivered, clocking 33.79 for 200 and beating the listed W75 world record of 33.86 by Canada’s Christa Bortignon in 2013. “Kathy took a commanding lead from the very outset,” one observer said, […]

August 10, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  8 Comments

Lupus hero of Lyon worlds: Carmellia Shivers-Cole

 after W45 hep

American Carmellia Shivers-Cole

 was seventh of 17 in the W45 heptathlon at Lyon worlds. But her story, as much as the medalists, is worth telling for what she overcame to finish — lupus and leg injury. She also is a success story from national chair Gary Snyder’s 2014 pay-for-a-newbie plan. In reply to a Q&A […]

August 10, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

In epic battle, Yanks McBarnette, Hlavin go 1-2 in Lyon M55 HJ

Rob Jerome captured the intensity of the M55 high jump Sunday in Lyon with these shots. And he’s a great reporter, too: “It was a real nail-biter for Bruce McBarnette this afternoon. He missed his opening attempt at 1.60 (5-3) and later missed his first two attempts at 1.70 (5-7). But only a true competitor […]

August 9, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

Wally Dashiell dances into the hammer throw record books

Lyon-goers got a well-deserved rest day Saturday. But that isn’t the only game in Earth Town. Saturday at Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland, about 140 athletes took part in that state’s Senior Olympics, a USATF-sanctioned meet, says Jerry Bookin-Weiner, who shared this news: “We had an American record set in the W90 hammer throw […]

August 8, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Americans win 5 golds (and 10 medals) in 100 finals at Lyon

Rob Jerome shot me some quick 100-meter results from Lyon, and amid Friday’s frying heat (124 on the track) were sizzling times. Gold medalists included these Yanks: M45 Reggie Pendland (11.24 into a 2.1 mps wind), W45 Emmanuelle McGowan (12.85 into a 1.9 wind), M55 Allan Tissenbaum (12.05), W75 Kathy Bergen (16.31 into a 3.1 […]

August 7, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  9 Comments

The hits just keep on coming: Lyon dysfunction noted by many

As a high school senior, I once was leadoff for a 4-by-200 at a night invitational. Somehow, the stadium lost its lights. Car headlamps were turned on. But I didn’t hear the starter commands, and the starter didn’t notice I wasn’t even in the blocks. The gun went off, and I said, “Whoops!” I ran […]

August 6, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  15 Comments

The athletes are performing at Lyon, but results/IT staff is not

According to the Lyon2015 Facebook page, four world records were set Wednesday in the multi-events: M50 decathlon by France’s Jean-Luc Duez (7864 points), W80 heptathlon by American Flo Meiler (5730), W60 hep by American Rita Hanscom and W55 hep by Australia’s Marie Kay (6652, blowing away Rita’s mark of 6057 at 2009 Lyon worlds). But […]

August 6, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  23 Comments

Amy Acuff plans last-chance leap at IAAF Beijing qualifying standard

Seth Brower writes from Texas: “We have learned that 5-time Olympian Amy Acuff will be jumping this Saturday night at the Lions meet at St Michaels, Austin. She is in great form and is trying to get a qualifying mark [1.94 meters or 6-4 1/4] to make the World Championships in Beijing later this month. […]

August 5, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  6 Comments

Warning: Getting to Lyon track may take longer than advertised

From a masters mole in Lyon: “The Athletes Manual (see French version here) provides maps of the stadia themselves, but not the surrounding areas. The instructions just say after you get off your tram you should walk, for example, ’11 minutes.’ But which way?” At least one American heptathlete mistook the time it takes to […]

August 5, 2015   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments