Can there be any doubt that
Gia Lewis-Smallwood holds the W35 American record in the discus? If
other mammoth heaves since turning 35 in April weren’t proof enough, she did us all a favor Saturday in Valence, France. As
reported by her alma mater, Gia “set a new American record in the discus at the French-sanctioned
DecaNation meet. The Champaign, Illinois, native won the event with a throw of 69.17 meters (226-11), besting the field by over 6 meters. [Her] toss surpasses the previous American record of 67.74 meters, set by
Stephanie Brown-Trafton in the spring of 2012.” Her previous PR was 67.59 at the Glasgow Diamond League earlier this year. Gia is expected to compete in Marrakech, Morocco, on Sept. 13-14. Next goal would be the W35 world record of 69.60 (228-4) by Russian Olympic champ
Faina Myelnik. Since age-group ARs set at North Carolina nationals
are listed as pending, it’s only fair that Gia get her name in the masters record books as well.
8 Responses
It also goes without saying that Gia won’t be considered for any end-of-year USATF masters awards because she failed to honor us with her presence at any masters meet. For shame!
Ken, the decision that athletes who do not compete in masters meets are not eligible for awards given by the Masters Committee is one that was reached in a democratic fashion by the Awards Committee and ratified by the MTF Committee at Convention. For shame for being democratic? No, for shame for using your soapbox to contest democratically arrived at decisions. You are a member of the MTF Awards Committee. If you don’t like a decision the group has made then raise it for reconsideration. Don’t go around casting aspersions.
Would be nice if democracy WERE in action. A vote of all masters athletes, not just members of the Awards Committee, is possible via USATF.org members-only area. Not all decisions need be made by the rabble, but why not try?
Hopefully, Gia will be throwing for the Twilight Throwers group in the future! -:)
Keep voting until you win!
Oh, the back-pedaling will be furious when a thrower who does not enter masters meets sets a world record or two later this month.
Seems like a good rule to me. If you want to win awards from USATF Masters, compete in some USATF Masters meets. We need to encourage people to compete in Masters meets.
Yep, why give an award to someone who may not even be aware they’re a master, or worse, may have no desire to be one? That has ‘awkward moments’ written all over it.
Gia will have to make do with USATF Athlete of the Week honors:
http://www.usatf.org/News/Gia-Lewis-Smallwood-sets-American-Record-and-wins-.aspx
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