Eurovets battle heat, lap snafus, HJ standards on Day 1

Pete Mulholland of Britain sends his first report from the 15th European Veterans Athletics Championships, held in Poznan, Poland. He begins: “Airline timetables and commitments at home saw me arrive towards the end of the opening day, a day that proved as hot (but more humid) as the 97 Fahrenheit I had left behind in London. The 10,000m races were more about survival than times, as many a runner gave up to save themselves for another and, hopefully, cooler day.”


Pete continues:
“So as to not disappoint, the lap scoring was its usual hit-and-miss affair. Great Britain’s M75 Derek Howarth was made to complete a 26th lap but fortunately had enough in hand to win.
“It was also the first day of the decathlons and heptathlons with most of the athletes’ first priorities being towards seeking shade within the exposed stadium. There is ample trackside seating but no grandstand.
“It was interesting to see Caroline Marler of Great Britain leading with ease on day one of the W55 heptathlon just a few months after setting a W55 world indoor record of 66.82secs at Linz. (Marler is also the W50 800m world indoor record holder.)
“I gave up running as I was getting too slow,” Marler had previously admitted, “so I though I would try something different.”
“One of the competitors trailing Marler in the heptathlon is a certain Grania Leaping Rabbit (that’s what is says here) of Germany. Must try to track down the hutch she is staying in and get the ‘full story’.
“Medical aid was required by many a gasping 10,000m runner but it was the multi-event high jumps that caused the major incidents of the day.
“Allan Lieper (M45) and Hazel Barker (W45), both of Great Britain, were both felled in their warm-up. Each of these athletes has a style that brings them up to the bar fully side on. Today, there was a new style of ‘bar holder’ (new to me; that is) and in each instance with their backwards’ approach, Fosbury style, their heads hit what is a secondary bar holder, which believe me is a real solid piece of metal. The equipment was marked ‘Approved by IAAF’ but it certainly needs looking into.
“Hazel was rushed to hospital for the insertion of stitches and a warning ‘not to take any further part in the Championship.’ This meant goodbye to the heptathlon but she intends to compete in various individual events.
“Allan received identical medical advice but chose to ignore it and went on to clear 1.65m displaying his newly acquired bald patch, the only blemish on an otherwise healthy head of hair.
“Certainly not a day for records and the only one I can qualify is a Championship best of 18.72m in the M65 weight by Germany’s Hans Rocken.”
Me again:
So what’s up with the lap-counting? Haven’t we seen this before (again and again)? What’s it gonna take to reform the system — a W80 dying on her 26th lap?

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July 21, 2006