Meet director documents Silvester record as legit

When I learned that four-time Olympian Jay Silvester had broken the M70 American record in the discus, I was thrilled. So I blogged the news immediately. As the self-appointed masters blabbermouth, I also posted the news on the Track & Field News message board and sent the USATF press office in Indy a heads up. Then this reply came from USATF’s Vicky Oddi: “Masters results being what they are, we need to have everything confirmed before I can send out the release. After HWSG posts the results, we’ll move it.” All I wanted was a brief mention in USATF’s News & Notes press release. Soon, I learned why: USATF didn’t consider the info from the meet reliable. So without trying to confirm Jay’s mark, they just ignored it. That led to some tense back-and-forth over the blackout.

USATF press chief Jill Geer wrote to Masters T&F media chair Bob Weiner:

I don’t know if there were discrepancies with Jay’s marks; the point is that what was coming from the meet was a little suspect and therefore we didn’t want to make that leap of faith. We have not done anything on the marks imparted by Ken as of yet because, as Vicky (Oddi) had mentioned on Friday, there were multiple discrepancies between early results and what was reported on Ken’s site. We don’t have the knowledge or authority regarding this meet to be able to know that we would choose a correct mark. (We have faith in Ken but not in the early meet results.)

So last night I wrote to the meet director of the Huntsman World Senior Games (where Jay set the mark), and she replied this morning.
She sent this definitive note to me, Jill, Bob, National Masters News’ editors and several others:

Sent: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 10:38 am
Subject: Response to questions about Jay Silvester discus mark
Good Morning,
I am replying to ALL of you, in hopes that I answer each of your questions.
My name is Cindi Blevins; this is my 5th year as one of the Directors for HWSG Track & Field.
In addition I am also the Meet Secretary.
On Wednesday, 10 October 2007 at 11:20am, L. Jay Silvester competed in the Discus Event at the Huntsman World Senior Games in the 70-74 Division.
On his 2nd attempt he made a throw of 50.27m/ 164’11.50, this was measured with a steel tape and verified by four Certified USATF Officials.
Dale Robison USATF
Cert # 011917
John Nowicki USATF
Cert # 006149
Tiffany Lott Hogan USATF
Cert # 019755
Paul Blackard USATF
Cert # 012160 Head Referee
Implement Certification was legal and conducted by Paul Blackard USATF Cert # 012160
An application in regards to this throw has been completed and will be submitted for consideration after the completion of the HWSG debrief at the end of this month.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me.