Honchos on board to derail WMA record erasures
USATF Masters T&F Chairman George Mathews and his Northwest friend Bill Roe, president of USA Track & Field, have jumped in to support efforts to keep the WMA records book as is. They want WMA to keep listing and maintaining age-group records in the mile, especially. George writes: “We obviously will convey the U.S. wishes on this subject to WMA. I am sure Dave (Clingan) will get a motion of support from the Masters Committee in December and I will bring it to the WMA General Assembly in Riccione if not the Council before then. Sandy (Pashkin) and Rex (Harvey) will advise us of best time and place.”
Prez Bill, meanwhile, wrote to M44.9 runner Pete Magill and friends:
Peter, et al,
Why are the events for masters world marks any different than those of the IAAF for open men and women?
Flat: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1000m, 1500m, Mile, 2000m, 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m, 20,000m, 1 hour, 25,000m, 30,000m
Hurdles: 100m hurdles (women), 110m hurdles (men), 400m hurdles, 3000m steeplechase.
Relays: 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, 4x800m, 4x1500m (men only)
Road: 10km, 15km, 20km, Halfmarathon, 25km, 30km, Marathon, 100km, Marathon Road Relay
Walking (track): 20,000m, 30,000m, 50,000m (men only)
Walking (road): 20km, 50km (men only)
Field: High Jump, Pole Vault, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put, Discus Throw, Hammer Throw, Javelin Throw
Combined: Heptathlon (women only), Decathlon
I know the enormous efforts Sandy puts forth, but if she accepts the job of recordkeeper, I don’t think it is her job to determine the records she keeps. I don’t understand…
Bill Roe
Good points, Bill.
Powerful momentum is building against efforts to zap the mile, 3,000 and 00 relay events from the masters record books. But like anything else, a chorus of voices is needed to make WMA sing ‘Uncle.” Keep the fires burning!
2 Responses
As one of the dethroned world record holders (W 70 mile indoors), I am encouraged by the outrage from others re the putative efforts to remove the mile – and other marks from the WMA world records. My first reaction was one of considerable disappointment. National Masters News published my photo taken at Reggie Lewis and noted that I set a US record in the mile. That was the first I had heard of my eviction from the throne. And at the Southeast Masters Meet at Duke yesterday (Saturday May 6th) ringmaster extraordinare – Peter Taylor announced me as the US record holder. Gee – and all my friends have been congratulating me as a World Record holder. American record holder does not have the same ring – not that I am knocking it, but really – people who know little about track and field do not sit up and take notice of an American record the way they notice a world record. Do I have to return the two loaves of bread from my favorite bakery – given in lieu of flowers -when she heard of my world record? How about the headlines in the local papers – shall I call them up and tell them that actually I am a fraud?
Now it appears that the notice of my forceful removal from the throne is premature. It would be nice of National Master News to print a retraction in the June edition. Usually a masters athlete’s best friend, this time they really shot a couple of us in the foot – or the head – or maybe it is the ego.
For those who break world records all the time, perhaps it is easy come easy go, but for me, this could be a once in a life time event. I am not one of the stars of masters track and field. To break a world record is a really really big deal. To have the record taken away in such a stealth manner is disheartening to say the least. In fact I would say that National Masters News is a kill joy “big time”. It is a little like having dirt thrown in the face.
Indeed some folks spend alot of money to travel far to find an event in which they think they can break a world record. This is suppose to be fun folks, track and field needs alot of new blood, not bloodletting. It needs more women to take part, not fewer. And it needs some body in charge of world record keeping that is not WMA
The movement to void Masters records in long recognized events such as the mile is a crime (or should be). What is the rationale for this absurd proposal? To save a few lines in the record books? Masters Unite! Squash this heresy.
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