Anthony Whiteman among nominees for Athletics Weekly honors

Tony takes a well-deserved rest.

As we await Meb Keflezighi’s final marathon (at age 42 Sunday in New York City), let’s pause to admire the British track magazine for again uttering the M-word. This time, masters are part of the year-end honors list. Athletics Weekly wants to know your pick for top over-40 athlete in Britain. (My stuff-the-ballot-box votes are for Tony Whiteman.) But back to Meb, a fellow San Diegan who’ve I crossed paths with many times. He has an entourage, but he stays grounded and humble. I hope he stays in the game and considers a return to a form of low-pressure track (hint, hint) where nobody judges you. (We all have issues.)

AW’s nominees:

BRITISH MASTERS ATHLETE (over 40)

Angela Copson: The W70 has dominated her age group and has set numerous world records. Now holds British records at 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m half-marathon and marathon. She won European masters titles at 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m and half-marathon.

Carole Filer: Won world masters W60 indoor titles in Daegu at high jump, long jump and pentathlon and then in the summer, European golds at heptathlon, high jump, long jump and 80m hurdles.

Susan Frisby: Set a W55 300m hurdles world record of 48.74 in winning gold in the European Masters Championships, where she also won the heptathlon and 80m hurdles.

Di Norman: Won the European masters W40 heptathlon title and BMAF titles at heptathlon, 400m, 800m, high jump, triple jump, long jump and shot.

Tamunonengiye-Ofori Ossai: The M40 won a sprint double at the World Masters indoors at 60m and 200m and added a 200m gold in the European Masters Championships where he also won a relay gold, though had to settle for second in the 100m.

Jo Pavey: Did not finish the London Marathon but still ran the fastest W40 times this year at 5000m and 10,000m.

Stephen Peters: Britain’s greatest ever vet sprinter won an individual M60 sprint triple at the European Masters and won gold in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

Anthony Whiteman: Regularly improved the world M45 800m record all the way down to 1:49.86 and was still good enough to mix it with senior athletes at British Championships and British Milers Club meets.