Archive for July, 2016
Greg Pizza catches break from USADA: Only 20-month suspension
USADA on Wednesday announced that a three-member panel of the American Arbitration Association Commercial Arbitration Tribunal has opted to recommend a 20-month sanction for M60 sprinter Greg Pizza for his doping positive at 2015 Jacksonville nationals. He originally faced a 4-year competition ban. Now he can return in May 2017. “His sample tested positive for […]
July 21, 2016
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Bill Benson dies at 96; prolific distance runner set M85 mile record
Bill “Billy” Benson of Valley Stream, New York, a former M85 mile record-holder who was profiled earlier this year about his goal of running 1,000 races and aimed to finish the Fifth Avenue Mile for the umpteenth time, has died at age 96, Mary Trotto reports. Bill was a member of her USATF Masters Awards […]
July 20, 2016
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Michigan memories: Sunday relayists fought ‘hurricane’ headwind
The only relay leg you’d enjoy Sunday at Michigan nationals was anchor of the 4Ă—100. Others had to contend with the strongest headwinds I’ve experienced in any of my dozen-plus nationals. Weather data for that area said winds were at mid-30s mph with gusts in the low 40s. The second leg of the 4Ă—1 was […]
July 19, 2016
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Michigan memories: Steeplechase photos available for grabbing
Even though he was nearly 10 minutes off Charlie Ross’ M90 world record, George Roudebush at 91 was incredible at Michigan nationals in the 2000 steeple (and many other events). The barriers were 30 inches (instead of the 27 for hurdles in his age group). Safety judge Carroll DeWeese never made a move to yank […]
July 18, 2016
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Michigan nationals Day 4: Woodard tops Dussett in electrifying 4×4
Official results don’t show it, but the most exciting moment of Day 4 at Michigan nationals was an unexpected showdown between two of the best fortysomething quarter-milers in the world. Allen Woodard, 47, and Antwon Dussett, 40, didn’t know until just before the 4Ă—4 relay they would be their teams’ respective anchors. As fate would […]
July 17, 2016
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Michigan nationals Day 3: Jump records, Leake upsets Peyton
While I was napping under the Striders tent, two American records fell Saturday at Michigan nationals. USATF reports: “Antonio Palacios (Bloomington, Indiana) set a M50 American record in the men’s long jump, leaping 6.48m/21-3 on his final attempt to break the current mark of 6.42m/21-0.75 by Shirley Davisson in 1980. Palacios, the M45-49 indoor long […]
July 16, 2016
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Michigan nationals Day 2: More records, masters chairman race on
USATF’s account of Day 2 at masters nationals will suffice for now, including several big records. Just got back from the annual Athletes Banquet. Big news is that long sprinter Robert Thomas of Indiana announced he’ll run for national masters T&F chairman to succeed Gary Snyder. Longtime WMA executive Rex Harvey says he’ll also seek […]
July 15, 2016
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Michigan nationals Day 1: Hunter, Bernhard and Krug set ARs
Late Thursday night, the USATF site for Michigan nationals had spotty and glitchy results — not even listing Gary Hunter’s M60 American record in the pole vault. But Indy sent Amber Brooks, its top Olympic Trials media maven, to Grand Valley State University to report his and two other ARs. She wrote: “The first American […]
July 14, 2016
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How would you deal with track lockout? Help out Steve Morris
M65 vaulter and 2011 world champion Steve Morris writes: “For the past 30 years in early June when school lets out for the summer, I like to spend a few days with my family in the Palm Desert area. I enjoy escaping June Gloom that hangs around my city, chilling by a swimming pool and […]
July 13, 2016
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First American sub-7 miler over 80 won’t be eligible for U.S. record
James Eklund, 81, ran a mile at a Bay Area all-comers meet July 7. It wasn’t USATF-sanctioned, just a typical summer event. But his time was exceptional: 6:59.38, faster than the listed American M80 record of 7:09.60 by Joseph King in 2008. (The listed WR is 6:26.6 by Aussie David Carr.) The meet at Chabot […]
July 12, 2016
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