Archive for February, 2017

French sprinter awaits Daegu — and replies from WMA on ideas

Francois Bontemps isn’t related to the 18th-century French general by the same name, I learn. But out 21st century sprinter is a warrior for our sport. I asked him to share details on his career, and he graciously replied. An engineer between jobs, he lives in a small city near Toulouse. “I’m 53 and I […]

February 28, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Famed Bob Boal Masters Meet dies at 46; once great in Southeast

In 1969, M55 miler Bob Boal traveled from North Carolina to San Diego, where he would meet his son returning from Vietnam. He took advantage of the trip to compete in the second U.S. masters nationals. It delighted him. “I came home sort of like a missionary,” he said, and soon launched his own masters […]

February 27, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  13 Comments

See M50 French sprinter’s 7-point plan to improve WMA worlds

It’s not exactly the Storming of the Bastille, but a 1,300-word comment posted by M50 sprinter/hurdler Francois Bontemps is the equivalent for our sport. He shared a note sent to World Masters Athletics on how to improve world meets. His manifesto makes total sense. It’s reprinted below, slightly edited, since he wrote in a second […]

February 26, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  8 Comments

Kathy Martin modestly notes 3K WR a month before ABQ nationals

Five years ago, Kathy Martin was profiled by The New York Times. A newbie W60, she was mowing down age-group records. The video below shows her setting the 3K indoor record (11:16.50) at the Armory on Jan. 19, 2012. A week short of five years later, Jan. 12, Kathy returned to the Fort Washington Avenue […]

February 25, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

Best race of ABQ nationals? Orville’s comeback vs. Dixon in 60m

The most dramatic race at ABQ gets proper retelling on Runner’s World. Kit Fox ran down M99 Orville Rogers and M92 Dixon Hemphill about their stirring 60-meter dash showdown, which Orville won by an eyelash. “Dixon Hemphill wishes he would have simply leaned at the finish. Maybe he didn’t do it because of lack of […]

February 24, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  6 Comments

Daegu worlds detailed schedule posted soon after French complaint

Last weekend, M50 French multi-eventer Francois Bontemps posted on Facebook: “In four weeks, most of us will be in Daegu … but detailed schedule is not available yet … This is not correct for an event qualified as ‘Official World Championship.’” Mission accomplished, Francois. The timetable appears to be up now. (See it here.) Meanwhile, […]

February 23, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

India’s masters nationals claims 4,000 entrants — but no results?

What if USATF masters nationals drew 4,000 athletes but after two days posted no results? You’d have a riot. But that appears to be the case for the Masters Athletics Association of India nationals in Hyderabad, the capital of the southern state of Telangana. At least the federation website is mum on marks. We also […]

February 22, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

M35 and M80 WRs in 4×200 highlight relay action at ABQ nationals

At least two world indoor records were set in relays at ABQ nationals, including the M35 4×200 (equaling a 2015 mark by a British quartet) and the M80 4×200 that included superstuds Bob Lida and Bobby Whilden (whose Houston Elite team took a monster 10 seconds off the listed WMA record of 2:21.50 by a […]

February 21, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  4 Comments

Orville Rogers was ABQ ironman; won 60, 200, 400, 800 and mile!

Orville Rogers at 99 wasn’t cut any slack at ABQ nationals. In his 60-meter dash, he had to push to beat M90 Dixon Hemphill in a photo finish — 18.00 to 18.05. Orville also won the 200 (1:24.54), 400 (4:08.88), 800 (8:58.40) and mile (19:23.23). Whew! In the mile, where he holds the M95 world […]

February 20, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Bob Lida claiming Jordan title as world’s greatest 80-plus sprinter

Had World War II not intervened, Payton Jordan would have been a medal favorite in the 1940 and 1944 Games. But Payton became a legend anyway — as an Olympic and Stanford coach and a world-record sprinter into his early 80s. Twenty years ago, when I began covering masters and seeing Payton run, nobody could […]

February 19, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments