Mike Powell is nothing if not persistent. In 2006, 2007 and 2009, the WR-holder in the long jump promised to set an age-group world record in his event. First M40, then M45. Neither panned out. Now comes word (via news releases on PR Rocket and PR Newswire) that Mike is traveling Down Under for a shot at the M50 age-group record of 6.84 (22-5 1/4) by Finland’s Tapani Taavitsainen in 1994. “Powell will compete on March 7th 2015 at Athletics New Zealand Track & Field Championships and attempt to break the World Masters record,” says one release. “Breaking the record would mean he will be the ONLY athlete in ANY event EVER to hold the current and Masters record simultaneously.” Well, not really. The listed M35 triple jump WR is held by a gent named Jonathan Edwards and the listed M35 and M40 javelin records belong to a Mr. Jan Zelezny. But enough of quibbles. I’ve sent a note to the PR firm and Mike seeking comment on how he fell short of earlier WR forecasts and why he isn’t competing in masters meets. We’d love to see ya, Mike! There’s a meet in Lyon this summer!

The listed American M50 record, BTW, is 6.42 (21-0¾) by Shirley Davisson in 1980 — one of the oldest on the USATF books.

Here are the current WR-holders and their masters records:

M 35 17.92 Jonathan Edwards GBR 35 06.08.01 Edmonton, CAN

M 35 92.80 Jan Zelezny CZE 35 12.08.01 Edmonton, CAN

M 40 85.92 Jan Zelezny CZE 40 09.08.06 Göteborg,SWE

And here are snippets of earlier Powell predictions:

March 2006:

Mike Powell is feeling the hunger again. Not content to out-Beamon Beamon in the legendary 1991 duel with Carl Lewis, he now wants a taste of masters glory. He wants the M40 record in the long jump — the 2002 jump of 7.685 (25-2 1/2) by Aaron Sampson. So reports Dwight Stones, the jumper-turned-broadcaster.

April 2007:

Babe Ruth called his shot nearly 75 years ago. Or maybe not. But there’s no question that Mike Powell, the longest jumper in history, is predicting his own blast. An age-group world record. This time, it won’t be Tokyo. It may be Modesto, as he promises on his Web site, or it may be in Germany, as he told the IAAF this week. Of course, Mike once said he’d jump in the 2004 Olympic Trials. He didn’t. And that he’d get the M40 record in 2006. Not so, either. But you can’t fault a guy for having a fire in the belly. Go get it, Mike!

July 2009:

‘I’m aiming to compete again next year. Yes, you heard me right,’ said the affable 45-year-old American, whose 1991 World Championships winning leap of 8.95m has yet to be surpassed. Powell acknowledged that he isn’t out to challenge the current generation. . . . ‘But I’m out for the Masters over-45 world record. I’ve checked it out, 7.30m (23-11 1/2), I can do that.”

And here’s today’s press release for sake of posterity:

Olympian and Long Jump World record holder, Mike Powell, will jump again in competition at the age of 51. Announcement was made today at a press conference during the Simplot games in Idaho. Powell will compete on March 7th 2015 at Athletics New Zealand Track & Field Championships and attempt to break the World Masters record. Breaking the record would mean he will be the ONLY athlete in ANY event EVER to hold the current and Masters record simultaneously.
Olympian and current World record holder for the Long Jump Mike Powell, at the age of 51, will attempt to break the World Masters record. The official announcement was made today during a press conference at the Simplot Games in Pocatello, Idaho.

If Powell breaks the Masters record he will be the ONLY athlete in ANY sport to EVER hold both the current World record and Masters record at the same time.

The record attempt will be made while he is competing at the Athletics New Zealand Track & Field Championships March 6th-8th.

In 1991 Mike Powell beat Carl Lewis with a leap of 29′ 4½” for a new World record. This beat Bob Beamon’s long standing record that was considered unbeatable. At the time, Powell’s long time nemesis, Carl Lewis was undefeated in 60 events over 10 years in the Long Jump.

Powell’s record has stood for 24 years and is one of the longest held in all of sports. Only Jesse Owens has held the Long Jump record longer and in January 2017 Powell will surpass that.

“Barring injury, and injury could hinder any athlete at any age, I am confident of medaling and even winning at the Championships,” states Powell.

Due to his age, every jump Powell makes is considered an attempt at the Masters World record. The current Masters Record for the 50-55 age group is 22′ 5” set in 1994.

Powell continues, “This is an exciting challenge for me to actually compete with athletes half my age and I am confident about breaking the Masters record.”

“It will be interesting to see the dynamics of the competition. Will the other athletes relax a little and take it for granted they can beat the old man? Or will they be motivated to try harder for bragging rights by beating Mike Powell the World record holder?

“Either way I will be energized. This is not like the ceremonial throwing out of the first ball in baseball. I am going to New Zealand to strike out but to win the event and break the Masters record.”

“The other athletes should not be deceived by my age. I may be a little slower than when I beat Carl Lewis in 1991 but with age comes knowledge. Along with personal training I have been studying advanced techniques and have unique Long Jump knowledge that probably nobody in the world possesses.”

“During my coaching sessions with athletes I pass my knowledge on to the next generation of jumpers. I would love to coach a jumper that will beat my World Record,” concludes Powell.