Masters were crucial to a spectacular Olympic Trials
If you took everyone with ties to masters track out of Eugene, Oregon, for the period June 27 through July 6, you could not have had an Olympic Trials. Period. From the Oregon Track Club Masters members who showed visitors how to find the airport shuttles to the meet officials (including our own Rex Harvey) to the spectators themselves — you had one superduper reunion of masters track. Phil Raschker, Jim Barrineau and Sid Howard were among many masters stars in the house. (Plus locals like Becky Sisley, Sandy Pashkin and Frank Lulich.) Two masters exhibition races impressed thousands at Hayward Field. A free all-comers meet on Rest Day 2 featured hundreds of age-groupers. (Three events were held: 100, 400 and mile).
Since getting home from Eugene, where I kept a live blog of Trials events, I haven’t had much time to post photo galleries of the event. (I have dozens of shots of both the masters men’s 3K and women’s 200 exhibition races. Gimme time.)
However, I posted 180 shots of the Trials from my offbeat perspective at my employer’s Web site. Check out these photos, which include some from the masters 3000 and 200. Other photos of the masters events were posted at the usatf.org site. Here are shots of the 3K.
And for shameless self-indulgence, I humbly offer this video of my standing-start 100-meter dash. (I’m the headbanded guy taking second.) I also wrote a recap of masters events at my MAD blog.
I’m also delighted to share links to stories about our own Roald Bradstock, 46, the oldest male entrant at the Trials, who chucked the spear farther than eight other men in the prelims. (The oldest female entrant was Kristen Furseth-Mullaney , 48, who was DQ’d in the 20K race walk.)
Here’s how the Detroit Free Press reported the DQ:
RACEWALKER DQ’ED: Kristen Furseth-Mullaney, the Okemos race walker who overcame a serious brain injury to compete in the Olympic trials, was disqualified during Sunday morning’s 20-kilometer women’s final because of incorrect form.
“Twelve years ago, I would have been ticked, but just getting here was an accomplishment,” she said.
Furseth-Mullaney, who was in eighth place at the 13K mark when she received her third violation card, said she had a difficult time maintaining good race walking form due to stomach cramps. She’s still recovering from a brain injury and other ailments after being hit by a car while riding a bike two years ago.
Furseth-Mullaney, who competes for the Pegasus Athletic Club, had a lot of supporters cheering her on the 1K loop near Autzen Stadium, including U-M men’s assistant coach Fred LaPlante.
“I’m 58 years old, I’ve been in track all my life, and I’ve never been to a race walk,” LaPlante said. “I’m here because of her. She’s an inspiration.”
Here are some great stories on Roald:
The New York Times: Retiring Thrower Lifts Javelin to a Work of Art
The Los Angeles Times: Let’s hear it for the 40-plus set
The Washington Post: Javelin Throwers Show Their Personality
The New Orleans Times-Picayune: ‘Picasso’ finishes on colorful note
The Portland Oregonian: Javelin thrower brings a festive feel to the day
I took a series of Bradstock shots as well.
Stay tuned.
4 Responses
Great to see your knee is responding, Ken! Good luck in Spokane.
any results (link) from the all-comer meets?
It should be added here that the Women’s 20km Olympic Trials Racewalk was won by our own 44 year old New Hampshire resident Joanne Dow. Shw will be the oldest member of the U.S. Olympic Track & Field team competing in Beijing.
Ed, I wrote about Joanne on my MAD blog:
http://www.masters-athlete.com/public/478.cfm
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