Danny McFarlane’s M35 world record ignored anew
Jamaica’s Danny McFarlane, who turned 35 in June, ran the 400-meter hurdles in 48.32 on Aug. 26. This shattered the listed M35 world record of 48.93 by American Nat Page in 1992. But will Danny’s mark be ratified? Don’t count on it. The mark occurred in the semifinals at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka (he took fifth in the final in 48.59), and WMA has a blind spot when it comes to open track. How do I know? Well, a couple months ago, Danny ran sub 48.9 at an IAAF permit meet in Carson, California. He didn’t get WR credit for that time either. WMA will continue to stand for We Mandate Absurdities until this injustice is righted. Danny says he’s retiring from elite track. Wish the WMA records chair would unseat herself as well.
3 Responses
If a 17-year old ran in the Olympics or World Championships, and performed better than the World Junior record, his/her time would be recognized as the new World Junior record.
There is no good reason to exclude performances of masters-age athletes in open-age meets. Performances of junior-age athletes are not ignored when accomplished in open-age meets.
Bashing the current WMA Records chair over this is not productive. WMA makes the rules – not the holder of the position. Try constructive criticism – not verbal flailing for a change.
Whose responsibility is it to send completed forms for records to the record tsarina for recording a masters age-group record? Is it the responsibility of the meet director to figure out who set a record, fill out the paper work and mail it in or of the athlete who just set a record to see that this is done? Do you think that the meet director in Osaka is thinking about WMA records during the meet?
And – do you really think that an elite runner gives a fig about having a record ratified by WMA? Has this particular person even heard of the WMA? IF it is the athlete’s responsibility to see that the paper work is filled out and filed with the WMA records person and he/she does not do that – whose fault is it that the record does not turn up. I had not heard that it is the responsibility of the record person to hunt for records set in whatever meet, call up the meet director – while the meet is going on – and get the paperwork done.
I understand complaining about records not being recorded when paperwork is submitted in proper order – but if a masters age athlete does not have such paper work done – whose fault is that?
And how many elite athletes age 35 and up are thinking about setting WMA World Records? Really!!! do they get the big bucks for age group records? The money is for the open records – not age group records – or is my check missing from having held (briefly) one world record?
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