All we want for Christmas are some PBs (and maybe a record)

M55 vaulter John Carmony in Colorado has sent a charming little Christmas greeting to friends — a takeoff on Twas the Night before Christmas. It ends perfectly. (See it below.) We’ve also gotten word of another masters age-group record. This time it’s at a USATF-sanctioned Senior Games. Dr. James E. Oglesby, an M75 thrower, writes that he put the 4-kilo shot 13.08 meters (42 feet 11 inches) at the December 12 Florida Senior Games, beating the listed American record of 13.01 (42-8 1/2) by Arnie Gaynor in 2006. (Results are here.) “I am a member of the USATF and the meet (was) run in accordance with USATF rules,” James writes. “There were two field judges who used a steel tape for two separate measurements and the weighing official weighed the implement before and after the event.”

Here is John’s holiday gem:

ABOVE THE BAR CHRISTMAS

T’was the night before Christmas and all over town,

Kids were a-wondering if St. Nick was around.

We’d just finished the service at B-V-C-C,

So I thought I would check on our pit on this Eve.

As I rounded the corner, in the night the stars glistened,

Then a jingling of sleigh bells made me pause and to listen.

For by the pit parked was a sleigh with reindeer,

The pole shed was open, the runway swept clear.

Our pit was uncovered and the bar was set high,

I looked at this spectacle, a wondering, “Why”?

Then out on the runway I saw Santa a-standing,

Reindeer started stomping with a cadence demanding.

A quick check of the poles caused me fear and to dread,

‘Cause he’d pulled the 190 out of the shed!

“Santa, be careful! Phase 1 and Phase 2!”

But he waved me off, with a “Ho! Ho! Ho! HOOOOOO!!!”

As he charged down the runway with his beard flying high,

And great running form that would make our Pat cry.

Faster and faster! He came on like lightning!

His weight and his speed, the inertia was frightening!!

Then he planted the pole and leapt off the ground,

Punched his left arm, started swinging around,

The invert was great, this old Elf up-side-down,

ABOVE THE BAR he flew with a heavenly sound.

Santa landed safely, then bound from the pit,

Gave me a high five, with his reindeers then split.

But I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight,

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A NEW HEIGHT!