Archive for May, 2016

Mourning U.S. and British masters officials: Brooks and Whitaker

Northeast and British masters are mourning the deaths of two key officials who were outstanding athletes in their youth. Harry Brooks of Amherst, Massachusetts, died May 7, a couple weeks after former British Masters Athletics President Keith Whitaker passed away in Britain. Harry was 82 and Keith 84. Harry served for many years on the […]

May 19, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Ella Mae Colbert slices 30 seconds off W100 record (for naught)

Judging by video showing her dancing before a second attempt at the 100-meter dash, Ella Mae Colbert has plenty of life in those 100-year-old legs. Now that she’s warmed up with a solo, exhibition race in 46.79 seconds, it’s time for her handlers to get serious. As commenters have noted, her mark Tuesday at Chesnee […]

May 18, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Super Bowl sprint showdown at SCA meet: Gault vs. McConkey

In 1986, Willie Gault helped the Chicago Bears win Super Bowl XX. A year later, Phil McConkey starred for the New York Giants when they won Super Bowl XXI. Now they’re set to meet on the track May 28 — at the USATF Southern California Masters Championships (not nationals as I errantly posted earlier). The […]

May 17, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

Ida Keeling turns 101, stays focused on setting more world records

Ida Keeling moved deeper into W100 Sunday, when she turned 101. The Washington Post celebrated our poster girl for sprint longevity with a nice profile. “I feel that I’m still at it,” she’s quoted as saying. “I’m still picking up speed. I just go with the flow, go with what I have. That’s all I […]

May 16, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  6 Comments

Deep dive into Colorado masters track circuit has special strength

Even if it’s re-inventing the wheel, a Colorado paper did a great job introducing masters track to its Summit County readers. It profiled a handful of stars and told about our niche circuit in the state. (It also made the perennial dumb mistake of talking about five-year age groups as “60-65” and “50-55.”) But we’ll […]

May 15, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Anthony Whiteman wallops age-44 record in 800 by 5 seconds

Back in 1981, an Illinois runner named Ernest Billups ran the 800 meters in 1:56.1 at age 44. Until Saturday, that was the fastest 8 by an M44 on record. Then Anthony Whiteman showed up at a British Milers Club meet at Sportscity, Manchester. Down goes Ernie’s single-age record (kept by Pete Mundle until 2007). […]

May 14, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Kathy (and Bert at last) Bergen featured in the Los Angeles Times

Our friend Kathy Bergen, the world champion and WR sprinter/jumper, has been the focus of many news stories. The Los Angeles Times profiled her back in 2010. But hubby Bert has been in the background. Not so Friday, though. He gets deserved attention in yet another L.A. Times story. Sayeth the Times, recalling how he […]

May 13, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

Results posted for 19th Asian Masters Athletics Championships

The five-day Asian Masters Athletics Championships, a WMA regional, wrapped up over the weekend with 2,000 athletes from 25 countries. Results are posted. The 19th edition of the biennial meet was held at the national stadium in Kallang, Singapore. Athletes outside the region competed, but not a lot. I loved entrants names — like M45 […]

May 12, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

Double-double for Willie Gault: USATF Athlete of the Week again

It’s déjà vu all over again! Five years after being named USATF Athlete of the Week for taking down world records in the 100 and 200 at the Oxy Invite, Willie Gault did it again — for setting WRs in the 1 and 2 at Oxy. It’s his third time as AOW. His first was […]

May 11, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Striders Meet of Champions: Close and colorful races at Santa Ana

Saturday’s Southern California Striders Meet of Champions had a modest turnout, but with Striders wearing red and entrants getting bright orange T-shirts, it had to be the most colorful event held anywhere. Also a bunch of very exciting races. (See results here.) Among the close finishes: Jim Chinn edging Super Bowl champ Phil McConkey in […]

May 9, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments