Archive for November, 2016

Should USATF have a hotline to report masters drug cheats?

M75 lawyer Stephen Cohen is chair of the USATF Masters Drug Testing and Substance Abuse Committee, and doping is part of his annual region coordinator report, included here for the annual meeting. Stephen writes: “There was little opposition to Drug Testing at the Masters Region Championships (at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin) with one donation […]

November 18, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  11 Comments

Bill Shissler dies at 66; beloved thrower, coach touring after Perth

Bill Shissler took 14th out of 15 in the M65 shot at Perth, and that’s the least important thing you need to know about him. But it shows he was still in the game to the end. Less than two weeks later, on Nov. 9, Bill died while sightseeing at Ayers Rock. “I was informed […]

November 17, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  11 Comments

New York Times story reveals real age of ‘119-year-old sprinter’

India’s Dharam Pal Singh isn’t 119, and he didn’t compete in Perth as planned, but thanks to Jere (say Jerry) Longman and Hari Kumar of The New York Times, we finally know his true age group. And it’s nowhere near M100. Their 4,000-word masterpiece on masters age fraud (with a detour celebrating two real M95 […]

November 16, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  20 Comments

‘Mr. Marathon’ Tracy Sundlun fired by firm he co-founded in 1990s

Once upon a time, marathons were for men, and anything over 3 hours was not worth mentioning. That changed when Tim Murphy and Tracy Sundlund started the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon series — first in San Diego. Now everyone and his grandmother runs 26.2 miles or a half-marathon. Four months ago — just 36 hours […]

November 15, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Arthur Carbon is dated, but Aussie still churning out sprints at 96

A Perth news outlet covered a local gent who supposedly had not competed in track for 50 years. We learn about Arthur Carbon, the oldest entrant at worlds “in his first competitive hit-out in half a century, [who] finished at the back of the six-person M90-99 race in a time of 35.55 seconds.” He didn’t […]

November 14, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Proposals aims to ease, tighten rules on USATF masters records

USATF’s annual meeting will vote on more than 50 rules changes, including many with masters impact. At least four involve masters records. One I like: You need at least two entrants in an event (rather than the current three) to have an age-group mark ratified, but in field events all entrants across age groups count […]

November 13, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments

M75 Kiwi great Ron Robertson wasn’t his old WR self at Perth

Ron Robertson of New Zealand took gold in the M75 cross-country race in Perth, but fell short of his goal — medaling in four distance events. It wasn’t a bridge too far, since he became WMA Athlete of the Year in 2011 after winning four golds (three in WRs) at Sacramento worlds. But this year […]

November 12, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Kettrell Berry gets nearly 10-year prison term for sex with student

His eyes are bloodshot. His face grim. This is how Kettrell Berry, 53, looked when sentenced Thursday to 9 years, 8 months in prison for having sex with a student at the San Diego school where he worked. I wish I had been in court to hear the judge, who apparently noted kind words from […]

November 11, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  11 Comments

Champion Goldy dies at 99; personified name as athlete, person

A star at Michigan nationals was Champion Goldy Sr., a modest minister who represented all our hopes for active old age. Now I’m sad to report he won’t achieve his own goal — competing at age 100. Wednesday morning, USATFMasters tweeted the news: “Rev. Champion Goldy passed away last night at 99 years & 10 […]

November 10, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

Final Perth report from Bob Weiner, Gary Snyder, Mary Trotto

Aside from a DNF in the 1500, Bob Weiner had a good worlds. He beat his archrival Doug “Shaggy” Smith in the M65 steeplechase and got lots of attention for Team USA via his Masters Media Committee. His final summary is posted on USATF. Mary Trotto compiled medal winners. Gary Snyder, our outgoing national chair, […]

November 9, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments