Aussie and Kiwi athletes are named IAAF Best Masters for 2011
World Masters Athletics, led by Aussie President Stan Perkins, has named an Australian lady and New Zealand gent as IAAF Best Masters of 2011. WMA Secretary Winston Thomas of Britain writes on the WMA website: “Congratulations to all the entrants; this has been the most number of athletes nominated since the start of the WMA Best Master. Congratulations to the two athletes who are invited to attend the IAF Gala in Monaco on the 12th November 2011.” W50 racewalker Lyn Ventris and M70 steepler Ron Robertson are the honorees this year, beating out the likes of superthrower Neni Lewis and Canadian phenom Ed Whitlock. A year ago, Aussies Marie Kay and Peter Crombie got the nod. So do you see a pattern here? Check out the finalists for the top honor.
Lyn won three world titles in Sacramento and set a racewalk WR this season.
13 Responses
Ken, I know what you’re saying, but the pattern I see is one that doesn’t seem to feature any younger Masters. No one under 50 nominated?
Keith Bateman not even mentioned?
One just had to be in Sacramento this past July to see Hiroo Tanaka 80 years of age display his remarkable talents. This mans athletic ability and dedication to the sport you all here reading this comment right now, no what it takes to become a World Champion! Hiroo, not only did happen to Hiroo but check out these times @ Saramento 100- 14.80 200m-30.78 400m-71.53
Also have to mention that he anchored the m-80 4×100 for Japan & never ever in all my years of competing witness the unbeliveable 100meter lead in the race . He came across the finish line while the other teams were just at the 300 meter line . Just vision seeing that happening before your very eyes!! Unbelievable !! Congrats to this years IAAF Best Master’s Athletes Lyn Ventris & Ron Robertson on their
prestigious award.
I do not see a pattern at all – aside from selecting from a very top notch group of athletes. And it is good to see a race walker receive the honor as well. If you want to talk about”patterns” how about a pattern of mostly ignoring race walkers when it comes to handing out honors.
I don’t consider Ron Robertson, a “lady”, even though I would have voted for him.
Maybe Lyn is so gentle that she can be called a “gent”.
To regard these outstanding athletes only as representatives of their countries is an insult not only to Mr Perkins but more so to the athletes concerned.
In a earlier posting my bet was on Ron Robertson and it came true! It was watching him win the 3000m steeplechase in World Master record time of 9:25 competing in M45-49 age group at World Masters Track and Field in Eugene 1989 that I had my becoming “a master athlete when I grow up” defining moment of my life. In Eugene at age 47 Robertson ran the steeple so beautifully and so gazelle like that I was awestruck. They guy did not look a day over thirty and had the body of a 25 year old Olympic distance runner. A most deserving winner of this award. So is Lyn Ventris. Congratulations to both of them!!!
I think USA racewalker Jonathan Matthews should have been in the finalist mix also.
Ken, FYI Ron Robertson is from New Zealand and Lyn Ventris is from Australia.
Oops, sorry about mixed up sexes. All those folks Down Under look alike as well as sound alike. My apologies to Lyn and Ron.
Ken, when you are in a hole, the best advice is “Stop digging”.
Yeah, I’m having too much fun tonight. Just got back from a pedestrian fatality in my Patch:
http://patch.com/A-m8pl
Check out the photo of separate body parts covered on the freeway.
Ron reacts to his honor and looks forward (with his wife) to four days of luxury in Monaco:
http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article/?type=article&id=24890
It’s a shame that these anti-Australian comments keep surfacing on such an otherwise great website. I note that you have not bothered to report that Lyn Ventris has just broken three world records in six days at the Australian Masters Games in Adelaide. WORLD RECORDS – take the xenophobia off your website please Ken – your site is well respected in the masters world. Please let’s keep it that way.
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