120 USATF masters records set for ratification at Orlando meeting

Sean's 10K WR is set for ratification at Orlando annual meeting.

Sean’s 10K mark (also a WR) is set for record ratification at Orlando annual meeting.

Jeff Brower, masters records chair, has filed his list of USATF age-group records for approval in the wider Records Committee at the Orlando annual meeting. (See it here.) Some 168 marks were considered for review. Ten were rejected for reasons like illegal wind, meet lacking a USATF sanction or track not being marked properly. Three dozen were tossed as having already been surpassed. And a pair (by W50 Alisa Harvey for 800s) are still listed as “waiting” on zero-control test (the gun check). Most records went to W85 thrower Gloria Krug (six), M50 distance Sean Wade (six), W75 thrower Joanne Marriott (six), W65 thrower Myrle Mensey (five), W55 sprinter-hurdler Joy Upshaw (five), W80 thrower Mary Roman (four) and W75 sprinter-jumper Kathy Bergen (four). Generally, record submissions are rubber-stamped. So if you need to object, make your voice heard soon.

Print Friendly

November 30, 2016

2 Responses

  1. Peter L. Taylor - November 30, 2016

    Well, I see that my sentimental favorite, the W40 4 x 400 club record of 4:10.06 set by Athena TC at the 2013 Penn Relays, did not make it. Too bad, as I tried pretty hard on that one, and the ladies on the team deserve the mark. Why is that?

    First, they (Joan Hunter, Charmaine Roberts, Maryline Roux, and Gaby Grebski) actually ran the time, and the result has been an official part of the Penn Relays database ever since those four speedsters sailed to victory back in April 2013.

    Second, the referee signed off on the mark, as did the starter and the chief of FAT. Third, a photo was supplied by the chief.

    The only thing missing is the results of the zero control test (ZCT). The problem is that USATF Masters is not in charge of the Penn Relays; that world-renowned meet is the responsibility of the University of Pennsylvania and its staff. It’s hard for lowly masters to give commands to the Penn Relays to furnish x or y.

    Ironically, the “real” W40 4 x 400 record is 3:56.27, a non-club mark set at the Penn Relays. Thus, the 4:10.06 pales by comparison, but it still should be the club record.

    Another irony is that records at our little masters nationals sail right through unless there is something amiss such as nonmembers running on a club team, but the process of getting records approved that were set at the internationally known Penn Relays is infinitely harder.

    How would I know? Well, I processed most of the masters records set at the Penn Relays from 1996 through 2015. It’s tough, believe me, and not all of them went through, even though there was absolutely no doubt that they were achieved.

  2. Jim Burgoyne - December 3, 2016

    Big Thank You to Jeff for the updated submission process. It is great to know that the paperwork is received, you can check on the status on-line and you receive an email when the record is approved. This is a lot of work and athletes probably don’t realize what goes into the mechanics for these submissions.

Leave a Reply