Archive for January, 2017

Long sad story of Stella Walsh reveals her masters-age marks

M60 Renaissance Man Dave Ortman shares a link to an incredible story about Stella Walsh, the Polish-American Olympian who hid her intersex gender for decades. The revealing piece by Rob Tannenbaum includes a section on her later year track exploits: “At 35, her time at 100 yards was faster than it was at 19. At […]

January 11, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

USATF begins anti-doping seminar series Thursday via online class

If you’re still unsure about which supplements are legal, or how to apply for a TUE, USATF has a webinar for you. Starting Thursday, Jan. 12, you can quiz by computer anti-doping experts from USADA. This series will “highlight key topics such as supplements, Therapeutic Use Exemption Forms, Youth Education, etc. All USATF members are […]

January 10, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Deadline for Daegu worlds is Jan. 23; Rex Harvey urging entry

Rex Harvey, our new national chair, is pulling out all the stops to get people to enter Daegu worlds in late March, the WMA indoor meet in South Korea. Rex’s pitch, which includes details on travel and lodging, was posted in late December, but I didn’t notice it till Sunday. “Time to register is getting […]

January 9, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  7 Comments

Juárez, Mexico, a tough call for 2017 WMA regionals: Safe enough?

A week after LSU masters nationals in July, a major regional WMA meet is set for Juarez, Mexico — across the river from El Paso, Texas. A friend called my attention to its reputation for violence. Only a month ago, the State Department listed the city in a Mexican Travel Warning. The specific U.S. warning: […]

January 8, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  8 Comments

Bill Carter dies at 94; pentathlon legend holds M80 American record

Bill Carter’s last major season was 2010, when he won the M85 pentathlon at Sacramento nationals. But his Dallas Masters TC friends took note of his passing Jan. 2 at age 94. Bill was nominated for the Masters Hall of Fame at least once. The former track coach out of Marlow, Oklahoma, won many national […]

January 7, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

Commercial with old runner in nursing home is touching but bunk

With 4.7 million views on YouTube, this would-be adidas commercial by Eugen Merher has become a cult classic with runners. Eugen is a 26-year-old German film student who once studied at Oregon. The 99-second spot pulls at heartstrings, but it’s full of baloney. What nursing home would discourage an aged runner from donning his old […]

January 6, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  13 Comments

Nigeria reports attempted ‘visa racketeering’ at WMA Perth worlds

Last September, some Nigerians wanted to go to Australia – and not come back. At least nine guys or gals noticed Perth worlds and entered the meet to gain visas. It apparently didn’t work, because WMA checked with Nigeria’s masters affiliate. (See the story.) But NAM was embarrassed. We forgive you. Now we learn: “The […]

January 5, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Irene Obera, Aussie Jamieson named WMA Best Masters of 2016

Irene Obera’s stated goal for the 2015 season, when she was 82, was being named WMA Female Masters Athlete of the Year. She didn’t get it. (W55 Silke Schmidt did.) WMA made up for that oversight Tuesday. She and Aussie racewalker Andrew Jamieson are 2016’s Best Masters Athletes of the Year. (Andrew also won in […]

January 4, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  19 Comments

WMA superchampions deserve prize money; start with Daegu

In the course of reporting Nick Symmonds’ impending retirement, The New York Times says the 800 specialist wants the IOC to share 50 percent of its $4 billion-plus in quadrennial revenue with the 14,400 winter and summer Olympic athletes who compete every four years. “This 50/50 sharing approximates a standard business model in American professional […]

January 3, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  20 Comments

W65 Angela Copson cops Queen’s honor for services to running

W90 royal Queen Elizabeth likes masters track! Or at least the committees of civil servants who pick end-of-year honors after nominations by the government and public. Athletics Weekly notes some trackos that got QE2 love. Angela Copson, the WR lady who turns 70 in April, is one of the honorees “for services to Running.” An […]

January 2, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments