Records czar, using his noodle, signals OK of Sluder pentathlon AR

Laurie Rugenstein, resubmit your record application!

Three weeks ago, W40 Anne Sluder scored 3727 points in the pentathlon, beating the listed American record by nearly 200 points. But worries arose that she’d lose the record because she didn’t have the obligatory three in her event. The worries were for naught. Jeff Brower, new USATF Masters T&F records chair, quotes the USATF rule stating something like “at least three competitors … shall be bona fide and have participated in the event.” But he posits a situation where a W85 woman runs the 80-meter hurdles at a masters nationals by herself and breaks the record. “Is she going to be denied? Absolutely not!” He wrote me this week: “The spirit of the rule is to ensure bona fide competition. Therefore, if other evidence exists that the meet was bona fide (like hundreds of participants, the oversight of the MTF Games Committee, the use of experienced and certified officials, etc., I can think of many other examples), this requirement is fulfilled.” And he says: “If you define the 80M hurdles as a high hurdle event, then any competitor running any high hurdle event satisfies this requirement.”

Jeff writes:

In Ms. Sluder’s case, there were other men completing a pentathlon. Still, even if she was the ONLY competitor at this meet, I would still approve it because of the experienced people running this meet as well as the size and stature of the meet.

Now, if anything should come to my attention that would raise questions about the performance (illegally sloped throwing or jumping area, uncertified officials, etc.) then the record would be reviewed further and perhaps rejected.

Bottom line: “Ms. Sluder’s performance will be submitted for American Record consideration.”

This is big, folks. We finally have a records chair with common sense — and the smarts to take advantage of them. Also a heart.

But it also sets a precedent: If you’re in a serious USATF meet and you’re forced by circumstances to run solo, you can still be eligible for a record.

How many marks in the past have been denied on account of the “three needed for bona fide competition” rule?

One recent case involves a potential W65 world record in the mile.

As I reported two years ago:

Only two women are listed as competing in the mile at the Mid-America Region Masters Championships (aka 33rd Annual Rocky Mountain Masters Games) Aug. 24-25 at 5,000-foot-elevation Colorado State University in Ft. Collins. Laurie Rugenstein edged Valerie Eipper, 6:13.00 to 6:16.41, according to results sent me today. But look again. Laurie is 65 and Valerie is 53, and 6:13 represents a 3-second improvement on the listed world record of 6:16.28 by New York’s Marie-Louise Michelsohn in 2007.

But Laurie was denied a USATF record, likely on the basis of the three-entrant rule.

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July 16, 2015

7 Responses

  1. Peter L. Taylor - July 16, 2015

    Yes, yes, and yes. This has been a huge issue for me, as the requirements for masters T&F have not reflected the reality of our sport. We are dramatically different from open and collegiate track and field; unlike in masters, if I say that someone broke the men’s hurdle record in a collegiate meet, I know the guy ran 42-inch hurdles over 110 meters.

    But if I say that a male master broke the hurdle record I have to ask his age before determining the distance and hurdle height. In brief, we have many “mini-meets” within our large events. We have very small groups with the same requirements, have thin fields in some age groups, etc. As a result, we can’t routinely enforce the 3+ rule and still get justice.

    Also, the venue (level of meet and site) is very important. I took a very brief look at some of our American records this morning:

    400 Charles Allie M60 54.29 Raleigh
    400 Charles Allie M65 56.09 Raleigh

    100h Ty Brown M65 15.20 Raleigh

    In other words, they were set at Anne Sluder’s meet. That would be the venerable Southeastern Masters, a meet with top-level officials, a first-class facility (North Carolina State University in Raleigh), etc., etc.

    Historically, this would have meant nothing, as having fewer than 3 competitors would have been grounds for dismissal of the record, equivalent to running out of lane, impeding other competitors, etc. Was that justice? Now, if you can give me scientific proof that Anne jumped higher, hurdled better, etc. because she was the only competitor, I will listen. But I don’t think the proof will be forthcoming.

  2. Christel Donley - July 16, 2015

    What a plus for the athlete!! and a relief for the meet director.Laurie, go for it, and others, that still can find the signed forms.

    Jeff, I was so happy when you told me about that decision, now it’s in the OPEN.

  3. Alan Kolling - July 16, 2015

    So refreshing and gratifying to see common sense prevail without compromising the integrity of the records’ validation process.

  4. Terry - July 16, 2015

    And Ann is so deserving! Great news for all.

  5. David E. Ortman (M62), Seattle, WA - July 17, 2015

    This is great news, especially as we get older. Note that the W80 4x100m world relay record set at the National Senior Games earlier this month (see Ken’s post below) had two teams. Imagine how hard it will be to find three 95-99 age relay teams in order to set a record! A 105 year-old shot putter should not lose a record because s/he has outlived the competition.

  6. Rick Easley - July 20, 2015

    I knew you would bring common sense to this process. So glad you are in this position now. Can you revisit some of these performances that have been denied by the previous mindset?

  7. Jim Broun - July 20, 2015

    Jeff, You have brought a breath of fresh air and a great attitude of common sense and empathy to the records chair. Keep up the great work and I commend you for all you have done for track and field over the years! It’s great to see an active athlete and great competitor in the role!

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