Will Oshkosh weather dampen McBarnette’s record bid?

World champion Bruce McBarnette reports that he raised his own American record in the M50 high jump in mid-June at a Virginia all-comers meet. In a press release sent yesterday, he says he cleared 1.92 meters (6-3 1/2) at Major J. Wells track at Falls Church High School — his ninth M50 record. Current forecasts show a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms Friday, when Bruce and the other M50s jump at 11 a.m. But my experience is that rains, if they come, generally dodge nationals. (The Geezer Gods intercede.) Thunderstorms at 2007 Orono and 2008 Spokane nationals came at night and merely cooled us off. So let’s hope the same holds for Oshkosh. Meantime, kudos to Bruce. Keep chipping away at that German’s world record of 1.98 (6-6)!

Bruce poses at site of his 1.92 jump, his latest M50 American record.

Here’s what Bruce sent out:

Press Release – For Immediate Publication 
 
Contact: Gertrude Jones, (703) 404-8429, bruce@mcbarnette.com 
 
Loudoun Attorney sets USA Record at Falls Church High School 
 
Bruce McBarnette, a 51 year old attorney from Loudoun County, VA, set a new United States record of 1.92 meters (six feet 3 inches and one quarter) in the high jump of men 50-54 years old at the Potomac Track Club All Comers Track Meet at Major J. Wells track at Falls Church High School on Sunday, June 14th. This was his ninth USA record for 
his age group in less than 2 years. This performance broke the old American record whcih McBarnette set August 2, 2008 in Eugene, Oregon. 
 
Recently, USA Track and Field chose McBarnette, as Athlete of the Year for 2008 for men 50-54 years old. McBarnette, who is also president of the real estate investment firm, Summit Connection, has broken several age group world records, has won 5 world masters championships, and 20 USA Masters Championships for his age group. 
 
He will be representing the United States at the World Masters Championhships in Lahti Finland in September. McBarnette is a member of the Potomac Valley Track Club. His personal record is 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 meters), set at the Rutgers Relays in 1984. 
 
In addition to track and field, McBarnette is an actor and had roles on TV shows such as West Wing, The Wire, Law and Order, and on movies such as Rendition, Shooter, Along Came the Spider, Contact, Deep Impact, and Jackel. Also as a philanthropist, he has hosted events benefiting hurricane victims and other charitable causes at the Embassies of Finland, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Austria, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, and the Czech Republic. 
 
McBarnette, a graduate of Princeton University and New York University Law School, was a former legal counsel to the United States Senate, a former senior counsel for Fannie Mae, and a former Judge Advocate attorney for the US Army. 
 
Bruce McBarnette, Esq. 
President 
Summit Connection, LLC 
Real Estate Investing Firm 
bruce@mcbarnette.com 
http://mcbarnette.com/summit 
(703) 404-8429 
 
 
 

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July 9, 2009

6 Responses

  1. Jerry Bookin-Weiner - July 9, 2009

    Ken, how quickly we forget. The geezer gods had no power whatsoever to stop the downpours in Charlotte in 2006. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen again in Oshkosh!

  2. Lonnie Hooker - July 9, 2009

    Bruce,
    Congratulations on setting yet another record. I had no idea that as I was preparing to run the 200M, that I was watching you set an American Record.
    Good luck at Nationals and Worlds.
    Lonnie

  3. Mary Harada - July 9, 2009

    best wishes to Bruce and everyone else at Oshkosh. Yes we have had bad weather at other nationals – so who knows what will happen at Oshkosh. High jumping in the rain does not sound like a good plan to me – nor pole vaulting, hurdling, throwing metal object etc. Runners can run in the rain – probably not good for sprinters.
    And Ken – I read on Carmel’s blog that Oshkosh is charging a fee to non- partipants to watch – a first for me!
    I am home on the disabled list and really sorry to miss the show. Just getting there on the plane is more than my sore hip and back could stand. I am trying to heal up for Lahti.
    I wish all competitors good weather and great performances.

  4. Linda Carty - July 9, 2009

    Go take care of business in the high jump Bruce!!!

  5. Anonymous - July 11, 2009

    And in Oshkosh 1.93, nice height. And he wiped out one of Zacharias jumps in http://home.xmsnet.nl/weiatletiek/RecPyrEng.html

  6. Weia Reinboud - July 11, 2009

    That was me… Too fast clicking.

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