M55 great Bill Collins is returning home from Linz to some stateside kudos. Today he became the second masters star this year to gain USATF Athlete of the Week recognition from the Mother Ship in Indianapolis. (The other masters runner so honored was W45 middle-distancer Marisa Hanson on Jan. 24.)

Collins will be in action this weekend in Boston — one of at least 15 folks going for the trans-Atlantic (Linz-Beantown) double.
These are the ones I counted as going nearly straight from the Old World to New England (but I may have missed a few):
(The boldface ones are Linz world champions in at least one event)
W80 Johnnye Valien (60, HJ, LJ, PV, shot, etc,)
W70 Mary Harada (400, 800, mile)
M65 Emil Pawlik (60, 60H, pentath, HJ, LJ)
M60 Stephen Robbins (60, 200)
M60 Roger Pierce (60, 200, 400)
M60 George Mathews (throws)
M55 Bill Collins (sprints)
W55 Hillen von Maltzahn (sprints, hurdles, jumps)
W50 Rita Hanscom (sprints, hurdles, jumps)
M45 Dexter McCloud (hurdles)
M45 Bruce McBarnette (high jump)
W45 Lesley Chaplin-Swann (400, 800, mile)
M40 Gregory Foster (LJ, TJ)
W40 Caren Ware (hurdles, jumps, sprints, throws, penta)
M35 Dan Holton (PV)
M50 Jim Broun (hurdles)
Bob Weiner has prepared this press release for indoor nationals:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 21, 2006
Contact: Bob Weiner (National Masters Media Chair) or Rebecca Vander Linde
301-283-0821/ 202-329-1700
(Boston, MA) Many of the world’s best track and field athletes, will be competing at the U.S.A. Track & Field Masters Indoor Championships which will be held, after a one-year absence, in Boston Friday-Sunday, March 24-26. U.S. athletes will include five new World Indoor Champions from the just concluded World Masters Athletics Championships in Linz, Austria, March 15-20.
Six (me: actually 10) newly crowned WORLD CHAMPIONS are coming to Boston straight from their victories in Austria this week: Lesley Chaplin-Swann (McDonough, GA, W45 800 M), Bill Collins (Houston, TX, M55 60 Dash and 200M), Dexter McCloud, (Norcross, GA, M45 60M Hurdles), Sid Howard (Plainfield, NJ, M 65 800 M), and Bruce McBarnette (Sterling, VA, M45 High Jump). Local star Roger Pierce, age 61 of Essex, MA, won a silver medal in 400m and also won a gold medal on the U.S. M60 4 X 200 relay.
Alisa Harvey, who set a pending women’s World Masters Record in the mile and 800 Meters last month, could break world or American records for every race in which she competes.
Olympic Gold Medalist and brother of Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Al Joyner, is scheduled to participate in the Men’s Triple Jump, the event for which he won his Gold medal in 1984.
Nolan Shaheed, who played lead trumpet with Count Basie Orchestra, was musical director for Marvin Gaye, and has worked with Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Phil Collins, and Anita Baker (he is best described as a jazz trumpeter), is member of Masters Hall of Fame and will run in M55 800m and mile (he is from Pasadena, Calif). He has world outdoor marks in the M50 mile of 4:27.9 and M50 800 of 1:58.65).
On Friday, March 24 at 4PM, the 3000 Meters is the opening final at the three-day meet at Reggie Lewis Track, 1350 Tremont Street, Boston/Roxbury. Finals continue 9AM Saturday and 10 AM Sunday, March 25 and 26 including sprints, middle distances, field events, and relays. Spectators are free and welcome.
“Athletes from across the USA will compete in the meet,” said Steve Vaitones, Meet Director and managing director of the USA Track & Field-New England, hosting the meet. “The track is recognized as lightning-fast and top quality, conducive to world and national records. This meet and masters running sends a message of competitive fitness for an entire lifetime.”
Promoting the message of lifelong fitness are the eldest competitors, whom spectators always enjoy watching. Betty Jarvis of Aberdeen, NC, the oldest woman athlete at 91, will compete in the shot put and weight throw. The two oldest men, 92, are Leland McPhie of San Diego, CA (60m, High Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put, Weight Throw, Superweight Throw) and Max Springer of Knoxville, TN (200m, 400m, 800m).
At last year’s indoor championship, in Boise, Idaho, over 40 World and American records were broken, and this year should yield similar results.
NOTE: Media are invited for coverage and athlete interviews. For more information or interviews, please call Bob Weiner at 301-283-0821 or cell 202-329-1700, or locate Bob trackside. Media credentials are required. More schedule information, participant list, and meet specifics are available on Web at: http://www.usatf.org/events/2006/USAMastersIndoorTFChampionships/
(Source: Robert Weiner Associates 301-283-0821 and USATF-NE)
ATHLETES TO WATCH IN 2006 NATIONAL MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Lesley Chaplin-Swann, McDonough, GA, won the W45 800 at the just completed (March 15-20) World Indoor Masters Championship in Linz, Austria in American record time (2:20.99). This 48-year-old ex-Brit has been on a rampage over the last 9 months, beginning with a triple at the 2005 US outdoors (in Honolulu), where she won the 400, 800, and 1500. This winter she has gone under the listed American indoor marks (45-49 group) in the 800, 1500, and mile. Lesley will be a heavy favorite at Boston in the 800 and mile.
Bill Collins, Houston, TX, was under the listed world indoor marks (m55) in 60 (7.34) and 200 (23.36) in winning both at Linz Worlds. With his “pure diamond” sprinting form, Collins has dazzled athletes and grateful spectators for decades. In 1977 he teamed with Steve Riddick, Steve Williams, and Cliff Wiley to scorch a 38.03 world record in the 4 x 100 relay for the U.S. team in Dusseldorf, and he hasn’t gotten a great deal slower over the years. The holder of the 50-54 world mark in the 100 at an unthinkable 10.95 seconds, Bill will be a heavy favorite in the 60 and 200 (men 55-59) at Boston but will be pushed to the limit by the brilliant Alston Brown (from the island of Jamaica, now living in the New York area) in the 400.
Alisa Harvey. An all-time great at the University of Tennessee, where she was 1986 NCAA champion in the 1500, Alisa (Manassas, Virginia) is essentially an open runner but will be competing in the 40-44 age group at Boston. Possessing a velvet stride, Alisa is scheduled to run the 400 and 800. On February 18 Ms. Harvey set a pending world masters mile record of 4:50.95 and has also this winter ran an otherworldly 2:07.23 in the 800 (the American indoor record for 40-44 by the great Rose Monday is 2:16.01). Alisa could conceivably better the listed American mark in every race in which she competes and has announced her intention to go after the 400M masters world record of 57.40.
Al Joyner, out of Lincoln HS in East St. Louis, MO, and Arkansas State University, Olympic triple jump Gold Medalist, will headline the jumpers at Boston this weekend. In 1984, Al became the first American in 80 years to win the Olympic triple jump, taking off for a brilliant 56′ 7 1/2 inches. Joyner will be going for Milan Tiff’s world indoor mark (men 45-49) of 14.82 meters/48 feet, 7.46 inches.
Dexter McCloud, Norcross, GA (M45) set a World indoor mark at the World Championships in Austria this weekend at 60 hurdles (8.35) in trials, then won the final in a brilliant new WR of 8.22 seconds (60 hurdles), far under the listed mark of 8.36 by Colin Williams.
Bruce McBarnette, Sterling, VA also won at Worlds (m45 high jump). Bruce, who lives in northern Virginia, is out of Princeton University and NYU School of Law.
Sid Howard, Plainfield, NJ, Linz World Championship winner in 800, M65.
Roger Pierce, age 61 of Essex, MA, at the World Masters Indoor Champs in Linz, Austria, won a silver medal in 400m finishing 0.15 behind long-time rival Peter Crombie of Australia, and also won a gold medal on the U.S. M60 4 X 200 relay. Earlier in the meet, Pierce finished 4th in the finals of both the 60m and 200m. Pierce is scheduled to compete in Boston in the 60, 200 & 400.
Marie Kay (New South Wales, Australia). This Australian hotshot was first in the heptathlon and second in the 400 dash at the 2005 world masters (her heptathlon score is a pending world mark for women 45-49). In the 2003 worlds (these championships are held in odd-numbered years), Marie stormed to victory in the 200 dash (26.09 seconds) and the 400 (56.18). Watch for her in the 200 and 400 at Boston.
Oneitha (Neni) Lewis. Competing for the Shore Athletic Club of New Jersey, Nini is regarded as a lock for future induction in the Masters Hall of Fame. Her performance in the weight pentathlon last year was considered the best individual performance of 2005 (in the United States) by a female masters track and field athlete. Nini is stylish, quick, and explosive and will be a prohibitive favorite at Boston in the shot, weight throw, and superweight (she is the world indoor record holder in the weight throw).
Kathy Martin. The effortless Martin (Northport, NY) was the first (and last) Bengay Masters T&F athlete of the year (2004). Holder of the American indoor marks in the 800, 1500, mile, and 3000 for women 50-54, Martin will be the pick at Boston in the 800 and mile but may be pushed by Marge Bellisle in the 3000.
Nadine O’Connor. Termed an “emerging superstar” before the Hawaii nationals last year, Nadine (Del Mar, California) can now be called an established superstar. Holder of the world indoor marks for women 60-64 in the pole vault (3 meters/9’10, but she has gone 10′ 2″ outdoors) and 200 dash (an astonishing 29.51 seconds), Nadine will thrill her many fans as she takes on all comers in the 60 dash, 60 hurdles, 200, and pole vault at Boston. Nadine was named the outstanding female masters track athlete in the United States in 2005.
Emil Pawlik. A walk-on at Texas A&M University many years ago, this oil company executive (Jackson, Mississippi) laid off for many years but then came back with a vengeance. Named the outstanding male masters track athlete in the United States in 2005, Emil also was the sole recipient (male or female) of the inaugural Gleukos Masters Athlete of the Year award. The reigning world champion (ages 65-69) in the decathlon, Emil is close to unbeatable in multi-events and will thus be a heavy favorite in the pentathlon at Boston. Mr. Pawlik is also very strong in the long jump, high jump, and 60 hurdles and will compete in all three during the meet.
Ted Poulos the most prolific runner to compete in history with 300 races 1500m + a year, with his record 337 races in 2003 alone.
David Ashford. He has the physique, speed, and style of an elite college hurdler (he ran a world age group record of 13.73 seconds in the 110 hurdles in 2003 [39-inch hurdles]), but Mr. Ashford (from California) is actually in the 40-44 age group. In 1981, David was California state high school champ (West Covina HS) in 13.67 seconds and thus has lost almost nothing to Father Time. Watch him run the 60 hurdles at Boston, but don’t turn your head, because the race will be over.
Aaron Thigpen. A member of 11 United States national teams, Aaron dominated the 100 dash (40-44 age group) in the outdoor nationals in Hawaii last summer (winning in 10.80 seconds, an American record for the division). The only real question about Aaron at Boston is whether he can break the 16-year-old American mark by the great Eddie Hart of 6.97 seconds in the 60. Aaron, who has lifetime marks of 10.02 (wind-aided) and 10.18 (unaided) in the 100, will also go for gold in the 200.
Bobby Whilden (Texas) Bobby, who will compete in the 70-74 group at Boston, was one of an elite group of sprinters who came out of Texas in the 1950s (Olympic champ Bobby Morrow was the most prominent). Mr. Whilden, an All-American at the University of Texas and later a prominent attorney in the state, shocked the masters world last summer when he crushed the world 100 mark (ages 70-74) of the legendary Payton Jordan. Bobby’s time was 12.77 seconds.
Jim Stookey (Dickerson, Maryland). Dr. Jim Stookey can talk to you about mad cow disease (he’s a veterinary pathologist out of Auburn University), or he can talk to you about masters track and field, as he has been the male masters track and field athlete of the year in the U.S. on three separate occasions. The Hall of Famer holds the world indoor mark in the 60 hurdles (9.89 seconds, 70-74 group) and will compete in that event as well as the 60 dash, 200 dash, high jump, long jump, and triple jump (Jim is now in 75-79 age group).
PERSONALITIES: Nolan Shaheed, who played lead trumpet with Count Basie Orchestra, was musical director for Marvin Gaye, and has worked with Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Phil Collins, and Anita Baker (he is best described as a jazz trumpeter), is member of Masters Hall of Fame and will run in M55 middle distances. He is from Pasadena, Calif. He holds world outdoor mark in M50 mile of 4:27.9 and M50 800 of 1:58.65.
OF NOTE: George Mathews, National Masters T&F Chair, 62, from Hayden Lake, Idaho (near Coeur d’Alene), won the outdoor Masters World Championship this summer in San Sebastian, Spain in the M60 weight throw and was second in the weight pentathlon, 4th in the hammer, and 5th in the shot put. He was third in the hammer throw at last week’s Indoor World Championships in Austria and fifth in the shot put. He is #1 ranked in the U.S. for the weight throw, super weight, hammer, and weight pentathlon. He will be competing in weight throw, superweight, and shot put in Boston.
OLDEST COMPETITORS:
Leland McPhie (San Diego, CA) Age 92, holds the Men’s 90-94 World Records in the High Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put, Weight Throw, and Superweight Throw. (Competing: 60m, High Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put (4 kg), Weight Throw (12 lb.), Superweight Throw (35 lb.)).
Max Springer (Knoxville, TN): Age 92, holds the Men’s 90-94 World Records in the 200m, 400m, 800m, Mile, and Long Jump. (Competing in 200m, 400m, 800m)
Frank Levine (Norristown, PA) Age 91, holds the Men’s 90-94 World Record in the 3000m (Competing in: 800m, Mile, 3000m)
Betty Jarvis (Aberdeen, NC): Age 91, is the oldest woman set to compete in Boston. At 91, she will compete in the shotput and weight throw. At last year’s championships, she broke the American record in the hammer throw (women 90-94). Masters Hall of Fame member, holds Women’s 80-84 World Records in Discus Throw and Hammer Throw (3kg), Women’s 85-89 World Record for Hammer Throw and Weight Pentathalon, Women’s 90-94 World Records in Hammer Throw and Weight Throw.
CREDITING NOTE: Thanks to Pete Taylor, and also Ken Stone, Harry Brooks, and John Oleski, for providing information for this release.

Houston’s Bill Collins, presumably wearing his own spikes this time, won the M55 60 world title today in 7.34 seconds after lowering his own world indoor record of 7.47 to 7.46 in the semifinal earlier in the day at Linz, Austria. So two days after twice setting an M55 WR in the 200 he does the same in the 60. In the 200, however, he ran with borrowed spikes and shorts, having left them behind at a New Jersey airport. Germany’s Robert Koop, beating the official results Web site, sent this news of the latest Collins accomplishment. Danke, Robert!

Read the rest of this post »