Masters News and Muse

M50 sprinter/hurdler/jumper David Ortman would make a great president. Unfortunately, his politics are a little too green for most. A former Friends of the Earth honcho, he ran for public office in 1997, drawing some enthusaistic endorsements and nearly 140,000 votes for a seat on the Seattle Port Commision. But he couldn't clear the hurdle of an entrenched incumbent, losing 40 percent to 60 percent. No matter. He's first in masters hearts -- and an inspiration to rehabbing souls everywhere. His Carolina experiences would make a great campaign video.

Born in Connecticut, Ortman grew up in South Dakota and attended college in Kansas. His high school bests were unexceptional -- 10.6 for 100 yards, 24.2 (220), 52.3 (440), 2:17 (880) and 15.0 (120 highs). He high jumped 5-8 and long jumped 21-7. At Bethel College, his best marks were 50.2 (440), 15.0 (120 HH) and 54.6 (440H).

But as a master, he's been reborn: 11.76 (100), 23.42 (200), 52.9 (400), 57.2 (400H) and 5-10 in high jump. Between 1992 and 1996, David medaled 28 times in nine different events at regional, national or world regional masters championships.

As I once wrote about him: "David is an inspiration because he violates the webmaster's First Axiom of Masters Track: If you're mediocre when you leave track, you're mediocre when you return. In high school and college, David's marks were pretty unremarkable. But as a masters athlete, he's one of the kings."

A former columnist for National Masters News and one of the first to do world masters rankings online, Ortman weathered tropical storm and his own injury-prone body at worlds.

Dave's story:

Little did I know that -- in addition to battling a groin strain (sorry, no picture), and a few other "hurdles" along the way -- I would have to take on Tropical Storm Claudette at the XV World Masters Athletes Championship in
Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Leaving Seattle for San Juan, Puerto Rico, on an overnight flight was just the start of the adventure. A nonemergency seat that did not recline, and with no pillows or blankets, I was forced to cover myself in newspapers to keep warm. But on July 3, I did make it into San Juan, where it was warm enough.

Flying into San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Next stop was the Hotel El Portal, where I was informed that my hotel
reservation had been canceled because I had not shown up two days
previously. I was also told my roommate's reservation had been canceled as
well (during which time my "nonexistent" roommate made a phone deposit at
the front desk). As a result, it took several hours before this could be
straightened out and I did not get out to the Roberto Clemente Sports
Complex until the next day, July 4. At least I found it. Most athletes
trying to find the main track stadium on their own wound up at the Roberto
Clemente baseball stadium. Or the other Roberto Clemente baseball stadium.
Funny, I didn't know that Roberto Clemente ran track and field.

Roberto Clemente Sports Complex

I tried to jog a few laps, but it was clear that running the 400m Hurdles
was out of the question. So I watched as my buddy Russell Jacquet Acea from Seattle qualified for the finals in one heat, the day after he took
second in the M50 decathlon.

Russell Jacquet Acea (US) Lane 3 (64.84), Tony Wells (GB) Lane 7 (64.68).

Another heat of the M50 400 hurdles:

Steve Kemp (US) (64.06), Brian Berquist (CAN) (65.53) second.

And yet another heat of the M50 400 hurdles

Albert Meirer (SWI) Lane 4 (62.48), Bill Cheadle (US) Lane 5 (62.61), Robert Stevenson (GB) 62.34 Lane 7.

The next day (July 5), I was still sore as I watched the finals of the M50 400 hurdles. Sigh!

M50 400m Hurdles Finals: Robert Stevenson (GB) Lane 4 (59.81), Steve Kemp (US) Lane 5 (61.13), Bill Cheadle (US) Lane 1 (61.71), Albert Meier (SWI) Lane 6 (62.38), Brian Berquist (CAN) Lane 3 (65.36).

Of course, many athletes did compete while injured, including Stephen
Robbins (US) who later that afternoon run a tough M60 100m with a torn
rotor cuff.

Paul Edens (US) Lane 4 (12.28), Stephen Robbins (US) Lane 5 (12.30), Ernesto Gonzalez (PR) Lane 3 (12.43), Jorma Manninen (FIN) Lane 1 (12.69).

A similar close finish occurred in the M55 100:

Vladimir Vybostok (SLOV) Lane 5 (11.77), Charles Allie (US) Lane 4 (11.81), Wilfredo Picorelli (PR) (12.17), Franz Hohl (AUSTRIA) (12.20), Charles Cilla (FRA) (12.21), Roger Pierce (US) Lane 7 (12.31), Robert Frazer (GB) (12.43)

On Sunday, July 6, I had some choices to make. I could try and high jump
late Sunday afternoon in Sixto Escobar Stadium, home of the world's first
eight-foot high jump (Javier Sotomayor, Cuba) (and hope my groin didn't groan). I could wait until Tuesday and try the long jump. Or I could wait until Wednesday and see if I could manage the 100m hurdles and/or the 400.

I decided to take my chances on the high jump and hope that Sotomayor was
good luck. What I had not planned on was Tropical Storm Claudette, which
was at that moment whizzing by Puerto Rico.

I was able to get fairly warmed up without aggravating the old groin strain. The M50 high jump was to begin at 5 pm. Just like clockwork, a nasty squall line whipped through the stadium just as the event was to begin. Stinging wind and lashing vertical rain turned the track and the high jump approach into a swimming pool. Thunder and lightning drove most of us under the stadium.

Sixto Escobar Stadium high jump area during a similar attack by Tropical Storm Claudette on Tuesday, July 8, around 3 p.m. during the finals of the 200 and right before the M50 long jump. Note blown over tent. Scoreboard says "Great time."

OK. So now, thanks to Tropical Storm Claudette, the high jump area has
enough water for body surfing, it's been nearly an hour since I warmed up,
and the winds are still gusting like an erratic wind tunnel. Sigh! I squint at the bar and take my first jump. Disaster. My approach is tentative (think squish, squish, squish). My steps are off. I jam my takeoff foot into the surface and attempt to launch. Abort! Abort! I slam into the bar, land in the pit and note with alarm that my left calf muscle has cramped and assumed the dimensions of a softball.

David E. Ortman missing first height and wiping out the rest of the meet. This will probably not make a VIOXX ad. Photo by Dr. Richard Watson.

Yikes! Limp, limp! Sigh! I stretch and rub and manage to eventually get over 1.60m. But the left foot does not want to jump anymore. Sigh! Result: Fourth place in M50 high jump, although first among the U.S. jumpers.

Even after icing, and a day off on Monday, my left calf was too sore to touch. Sigh! So Tuesday I watched the 200 finals in the afternoon when a second major squall came blasting in knocking out the timing devices during the M50.

M50 200 finals: Bill Collins has a comfortable lead over Ed Gonera.

By Wednesday, my calf was little improved. The only event I was capable of
competing in was synchronized stretching.

Mexico's Mostly Synchronized Stretching Team

So back to Seattle to recover. My roommate Russell Anteronen (M55) from Minneapolis (who came with a sore Achilles and didn't get further than the
first round of the 100) had the right T-shirt:

Masters Track Motto

Congratulations to all those who participated. Thanks to the officials for putting in those long hours. And boo on Tropical Storm Claudette.

Posted by Ken Stone at 11:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Dave Clingan wears so many hats it's a surprise his head doesn't cave in. On one hand, he's the official keeper of USATF Masters Rankings online. On the other, he moves up in the rankings almost every month as a world-class 800 man. So it goes for the Portland, Oregon, runner -- the USATF Masters active athletes representative and co-webmaster of masterstrack.com (as well as the husband of Sharon and father of George and the mentor to a youth track team). (Not to mention majordomo of Crossroads Musics & Collectibles. At Carolina, Puerto Rico, he added another distinction -- at age 49 one of the oldest finalists in the M45 800.

Herewith the results of that race:

M45 800 Meter Run:

1. Crossland, David, Great Britain, 2:01.26;
2. Castillo, Roberto, United States, 2:03.09;
3. Mendez, Gonzalo, Spain, 2:03.32;
4. Ortiz, Jorge, Puerto Rico, 2:04.05;
5. Clingan, Dave, United States, 2:04.73;
6. Ruiz, Jose L., Puerto Rico, 2:06.52;
7. Paterson, Stuart, Australia, 2:08.29;
8. Kelly, Martin, Ireland, 2:09.99.

And a mini-interview with Master Clingan:

What were your goals going into final?

I was hoping to run a decent race, which I did. I would have liked a better time (ran almost a second faster in Eugene two weeks prior). But all times were slow due to difficult race conditions. A medal would have been great, but realistically I knew that each of the top four guys would be very tough to beat. So I am satisfied with the outcome.

Did the race go as planned?

More or less. I wanted to be in contention for a medal at the end of the first lap, and I was. It was a pretty tight pack at that point. On the second lap, I'd hoped to stay in contact and make a move in the last 100m. I tried, but I drifted a bit too far back, and my finish was not strong enough to catch anybody on the home stretch.

What were your splits?

Don't know! The clock was not running. Apparently, the rain caused a short.

What were wind/weather conditions like?

It was VERY hot and humid. Not conducive to fast times. About 20 minutes prior to the start, a huge thunderstorm hit us. It poured mercilessly. Then it went away just before the 800m races began, but the track was drenched. It was still drizzling a little when the gun went off for our race. There may have been a little bit of wind, but not enough to create any major problems.

What time of day was the final?

I think it was about 3:30 pm

What was it like to run in Atlanta 1996 USA uniform?

Cool! These uniforms look sharp. But I did have to take mine apart and sew it back together again, because the smallest size available was XL and I wear a Medium.

Feel any residual tightening in bad hamstring? (He had to drop out of the 2002 masters nationals 800 final in Maine after a lap while battling for the lead.)

My right hams has been bothering me all summer, but lately just a dull, persistent ache. It did not bother me at all during the race.

Have a faster 800 in you for Eugene?

I really think so, especially if conditions are optimal. That would mean several fast runners and a very quick first lap. On the other hand, I may have to run prelims in both the 800m and 1500m prior to the 800m final, so that may affect the times. We'll see. But I feel very fit and ready to go. Hoping to break 2:03!

Crossland leads after a lap, with Clingan in fifth.

Crossland wins handily in 2:01.26, with Clingan humping home in fifth.

Clingan completes the two circuits in 2:04.73 -- a mark equivalent to an open time of 1:49.57.

Posted by Ken Stone at 11:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Ed Gonera of New York had a unique vantage point during the M50 200 at Puerto Rico -- chasing Bill Collins to the finish line and winning the silver medal. Here's his take on the mystery 200:

"I am relating the story Bill Collins told me concerning the race. Bill said an official walked past the finish line as the race began. The official finished first, Bill second, me third and a photo for fourth. IAAF rules state the times cannot be recorded as official times -- only the positions of the runners. I believe I know someone who taped the race and will request a copy. The Brits tried to supply a tape of the race as evidence for Viv Oliver finishing in front of Bob Bowen. Bill told me the officials would not use the tape. The times for Bill ranged from 22.44 to 22.61. Bill said someone timed him in 22.2+. My time was given as 22.70. I also heard 22.74. Bowen and Oliver were given the same time. I think it was 23.08."

Posted by Ken Stone at 10:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The video of the "lost" 200 at WMA worlds apparently is more than a rumor. According to the British track magazine Athletics Weekly, such a video was cited to move Britain's Viv Oliver up from fourth to a tie for third (with American Robert Bowen) in the M50 200 won by Bill Collins of Texas.

On page 42 of its July 16 issue, Athletics Weekly reports:

Viv Bonner won her (W50) 200m from lane one in torrential rain and the event was stopped. Everyone was asked to leave the field for safety, as there was a period of thunder and lightning. Controversy surrounded the first race after the break, the M50 200. Soon after it got under way, the beam at the finish line was broken by an official. The timer was stopped without a recall and there was no photo-finish for the race.

The result was announced with Viv Oliver in fourth place. The British team manager protested with video evidence clearly showing Viv in third position. The result was adjusted and both third and fourth (place) athletes received bronze medals.

This account differs from the FlashResults story of how the timing was lost for the race. I'll see if I can dig up more details on this incident. Also hoping National Masters News resolves the dispute in its upcoming coverage of the Carolina meet.

Posted by Ken Stone at 10:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

FlashResults mogul Roger Jennings reports that Bill Collins, winner of the M50 200 meter on a rainy day in Carolina, "heard 22.3" as a hand-time result of his snakebit final. But Jennings writes: "I'm (nor he) was too sure where it came from, so no, haven't heard of any (other) times. Did hear a rumor someone had it on tape but nothing else." If 22.3 was a solid hand-time, then a plausible auto time would have been around 22.5 -- or a world M50 record if wind was OK.

That was the only blot on the record for FlashResults in Puerto Rico. I learned other details in a note from Roger, who graciously (and promptly) responded to some other questions regarding the timing at Carolina.

Herewith a mini Q&A:

Me: Did any other equipment fail during the meet?

Roger: Nope that was it. In fact it was the first race we've (FlashResults) missed in over 6 years -- bad luck.

Are all events accounted for except the M50 200 final?

I'm pretty sure so -- I may have forgotton to upload one, but I've double checked and it should be complete.

Will FlashResults provide timing and results services at Eugene masters
nationals next month? Will you work at future WMA meets?

Yes, we'll be at Eugene. We also provided the results/timing for the 2000
champs http://www.flashresults.com/2000_Meets/outdoor/Masters/index.html

Future WMA, who knows? Though the WMA themselves are interested, I'm pretty sure the decision is still up to the LOC.

How many FlashResults people worked the Carolina meet?

Two Crews, seven (staffers) all together: At Roberto Clemente: Roger Jennings, Tom Jennings, Don Chadez (Flash Results West). At Sixto Escobar: Rich Nagy, Dave Wyotek, Gene Smith, Judy Smith. We also had great help from the LOC. I was VERY impressed with the LOC.

Was the WMA meet in Puerto Rico the biggest event you've handled?

Hmm, probably not, (but) it was the longest event we've done (10 days comp over a 12-day period of time). But in sheer size the Penn Relays is huge, I think around 12,000 competitors, all of that crammed into 3 days of competition.

What was a typical day like in Carolina? When did you get up in morning? When did you pack it up for the night? When did you get breaks?

It was tough, normally up before 5 a.m., head to the stadium (Clemente 25-min drive from hotel), time morning session (usually from 7-8am to 11am) then we'd have a break from timing but still hung around the timing/data area to process field events. The afternoon session would kick off around 4 p.m. and usually end up around 8 p.m. They were LONG days! The Sixto Escobar team had a better set up, the hotel was probably a 3-min walk to the stadium.

How many days were affected by strong winds or rain?

I think every day had strong winds in the 3-6 meters/sec range, the wind readings vary wildly in the sprints because it was almost a straight crosswind. Rain, seemed like every day, but normally only a passing shower, only twice did we have thunder/lightning storms, the worst was the last day!

Back to Bill Collins and his missing 200 time:

If anyone can produce a tape of the race, please, PLEASE get in touch with Roger at rcjennings@flashresults.com or me at TrackCEO@aol.com or someone in USATF Masters. The time wouldn't be official, but the mystery -- and the injustice of the omission -- would be lessened.

Posted by Ken Stone at 12:46 AM | Permalink

Al Oerter the discus god and David Pain the founder of USA masters track are recovering from serious health problems at the moment. In southwest Florida, Oerter is thankful to be alive after heart failure. In San Diego, Pain is recovering from a serious bike crash. Sorry to be reporting these incidents months after the fact. (But even Track & Field News editor Garry Hill admits he didn't know about Oerter until two days ago.)

Columnist Glenn Miller wrote a moving column about Oerter's near death experience. In it, he writes that in March 2003:

Oerter was rushed by ambulance to HealthPark Medical Center. His wife, Cathy, was teaching a dance class at Bay Oaks Recreation Center when he was stricken. She was contacted and zoomed up Estero Boulevard in the middle lane, following the ambulance. In the emergency room, according to Oerter, he was zapped three times by heart-starting paddles. Cathy was told by doctors that they weren’t sure Al would make it.

In Pain's case, the accident occurred April 12, 2003. Pain's wife, Linda, writes:

David had a terrible bike accident. . . . A front tire blew as he was going about 40 mph downhill. He was thrown to the pavement. He spent six days in Sharp ICU. He's making an amazing recovery, according to his doctors, considering the extent of his injuries -- 6 broken ribs, both lungs punctured, broken shoulder blade, injured shoulder, bruised heart, a crack on the head, etc. He's back on his bike and riding a bit but still suffers from some vertigo. He probably survived because he was in such excellent condition.

Later, Linda wrote me:

David is mobile enough to be able to enjoy an outing. He would prefer to ride his bike since that is much easier for him than walking.

Pain turns 81 at the end of this month. Oerter -- whose M40 discus record of 69.46 (227-11) set in 1980 is one of the oldest on the books -- is 66. Glad they're still with us.

David Pain kneels by collage of his masters track career in hallway of his home near San Diego State University. After calling it quits on the track (with a bad knee), he took up cycling -- and became national class in his age group. --Photo by Ken Stone

Posted by Ken Stone at 12:23 AM | Permalink

Anyone who competes in a world masters meet has a story to tell that rivals "The Odyssey" by Homer. If I could interview some of the sung and unsung USA athletes, for example, I might start with Louise Adams, 81, who won the 800, 1500, 5000 and 8K cross country race. I'd ask: "What motivates you to keep a-going with so little competition in your age group?"

Of M100 phenom Waldo McBurney, a beekeeper from Kansas, I'd ask: "You just became the most decorated centenarian in masters world championship history by winning the 100, 5K racewalk and shot put. But Everett Hosack, one of your only potential opponents, stayed home in Ohio on doctor's orders. Any chance we'll finally see you guys lock horns in 2005 San Sebastian -- when you are 102 and Everett is 103?"

Of M40 pole vaulter Kenneth Bayless, I'd ask: "Did you make a mistake by starting at 4.0 (13-1 1/2) and thus no-heighting in your only event?"

Of M45 pole vaulter Robert Crites: The exact same question.

Of M60 walker Don Denoon, I'd ask: "Did you expect to win both the 5K and 20K events?"

Of M70 walker Jack Bray: The exact same question.

Of W70 thrower and jumper Gloria Bortell, I'd ask: "How frustrating was it to finish fourth in four events -- the long jump, triple jump, hammer and shot -- and come away with no medals? Did your silver in the javelin make up for it?"

Of M50 sprinter Bill Collins, I'd ask: "You won the M50 100 and 200. What led you to be the only one of 34 entered sprinters listed DNS (did not start) in the 400 meters?"

Of W75 multi-event start Leonore McDaniels, I'd ask: "You won the long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault -- some bettering listed WMA world records. But you took fourth in the 100. What's it like to lose?"

Of M60 mult-event star Emil Pawlik, I'd ask: "You won the decathlon with an impressive 7,925 points. How much ibuprofen did you consume and how many massages did you get so you could follow that two-day ordeal by competing in the 100 hurdles (silver), 300 hurdles (sixth), long jump (bronze) and high jump (bronze)?"

Of W75 multi-eventer Johnnye Valien, I'd ask: Almost the exact same question. (She took bronze in the heptathlon and followed that with silvers in the 80-meter hurdles, long jump, triple jump and pole vault, bronze in the 200, and also finished high in the 100, high jump and shot put.) Added question: How about you an Emil going head-to-head someday?"

Of W75 sprinter Pat Peterson, I'd ask: "Did taking second in the 100 and 200 and third in the 400 disappoint you? Where were you when Bill Collins was deciding whether to run 400?"

Of W55 legend Phil Raschker, I'd ask: "You won five individual events, took silver in two and bronze in one. How do you excel in so many different disciplines while nursing injuries and illnesses?"

Of M60 hurdler Theo Viltz, I'd ask: "You won the M45 short hurdles title at Eugene in 1989 and the short hurdles title here as well. How do you stay in shape for such a strenuous event over a 14-year span?"

Of M50 sprinter Zbigy Zlobicki, I'd ask: "You were last on the USA roster and took 14th and 16th, respectively, in the 200 and 100 semifinals. What will be the first thing you tell your grandchildren when they ask about your achievements at WMA worlds?"

Enuf. You get the picture.

Congratulations to all the Americans -- and all the athletes of the world -- who made the effort to compete in Carolina for the joy of sport. Even if your story is never told.

Posted by Ken Stone at 1:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I'm positively pleased to share a note I wrote to Roger Jennings at FlashResults, the North Carolina-based timing and results-reporting service that did such a great job in Carolina, Puerto Rico. And I urge like-minded athletes to do the same.

Here's a portion of a note I sent Roger:

On behalf of all the WMA wannabes who didn't make it to Carolina -- and friends of entrants all over the world -- I want to congratulate you on a terrific job posting results at worlds!

Having results in text and piecemeal fashion was great. One could search through the day's event wrapup and then turn to the full-blown results for more details.

I urge people with similar feelings to write to write to Roger at: rcjennings@flashresults.com and cc the note to WMA vice president-stadia at: rexjh@aol.com. Kudos to meet management as well.

With exception of the lost-in-space M50 200 finals (victim of a lightning strike), we had the most complete and quickly posted online results in the history of WAVA/WMA. This was a huge contrast to the utter botch of results by the 2001 Brisbane world masters meet, which I lampooned on egroups.

In fact, National Masters News ran a column by Al Sheahen saying of Brisbane:

Results were sporadic and very hard to come by. Results of the early days’ cross-country, racewalks, and decathlon/heptathlon didn’t come through for days. After that, daily results, when you could find them, were incomplete.

In the results summary in this issue are several gaps and holes. Worse, the results are generally organized by age-group, rather than by event, making them harder to read. “The distribution of results was the worst I’ve ever seen at a world or national meet,” said Jerry Wojcik, NMN's senior editor and results compiler.

Although the Puerto Rico worlds has the smallest turnout in about 20 years, it made the biggest strides in terms of results dissemination -- making it possible for me to comment intelligently on the meet and media around the world to cover the action for hometown papers and broadcast outlets.

Here are some of the stories generated on the 15th World Masters Athletic Championships:
A story on M65 walker Stuart Summerhayes.

A story on M50 runner Joe Gough.

An item on M50 thrower Chris Black.

An update on M50 sprinter Wally Franklyn.

A report on M75 sprinter Allan Meddings.

FlashResults helped a bunch in making possible these reports.

Posted by Ken Stone at 1:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

For all the marvelous marks at Carolina, we might keep in mind the athletes left behind. An unknown number of entrants never made it to the stadia of Puerto Rico. Many could have medaled. This is always the case, but the relatively low turnout at Carolina (probably under 2,500) underlines the point. So did a weekend masters meet in California, where six marks would have medaled at worlds -- four for gold!

Saturday was the ninth day of competition at the 15th World Masters Athletic Championships. It also was the lone day of a low-key masters meet at Patrick Henry High School in San Diego. Directed by 1976 Olympic long jump champion Arnie Robinson, still hobbled by a serious hit-and-run car accident three years ago, the meet provided automatic timing as part of the California State Games.

In San Diego, M40 sprinter Kettrell Berry of the SoCal Track Club, wearing golden Nikes, won the 200 in 21.97 seconds. Although a wind gauge wasn't present, the wind was negligible. The time would have beaten the wind-aided 22.45 that Canadian D. Lee Provo clocked to win the M40 200 at worlds.

Berry, 40, was giddy about having recovered from a nagging lower-back injury this season. Less than an hour later, he went out and ran the 400 in 50.36 -- which would have won bronze in Puerto Rico behind the 50.18 by Venezuela's Rafael Diaz and 50.28 by American Sal Allah.

In the M65 age group, Harold Tolson would have done Berry one better -- winning two gold medals at worlds.

San Diegan Tolson, 65, won the 100 at the California State Games in 12.72. The winning time at Carolina was Robert Lida's 12.90. Tolson then won the 200 in San Diego at 25.69, compared with Lida's winning mark in Carolina of 26.28.

Masters great Stan Whitley, 57, also ran the 200 in San Diego. His time of 24.43 would have been good for the silver medal at Carolina, behind the 24.11 by American Charles Allie and ahead of the 24.75 by Austria's Franz Hohl.

Another masters standout, Joy Upshaw-Margerum, competed in four events at the California State Games. And Margerum, 42, would have won gold with in the W40 200 at worlds with her 25.61 at San Diego. The winner at Carolina was Australia's Marie Kay with 26.09. Margerum also ran a solo 80-meter hurdles in San Diego. Her time of 12.52 would have taken sixth in W40 at worlds.

Just missing a high jump medal at worlds would have been John Little, 53. In San Diego, he straddled 5 feet 4 inches, or about 1.62 meters. That would have been good for fourth in M50 at Carolina, ahead of David Ortman's 1.60.

A few others in San Diego would have been finalists at Carolina, including W55 shot putter Ingrid Mancini, 59, who threw 28-0 3/4 (8.55 meters) -- a mark good for seventh at worlds. And Lloyd McGuire, 71, did a solo 5K track race walk in 35:52 -- which would have been good for ninth in the M70 event at PR.

So what does this all mean?

It means that a small-turnout San Diego masters meet alone could have provided three world champions in Carolina. Think of all the Aussies and Brits who would have won gold as well had they made the trip to the Caribbean.

Some dropouts at worlds also were significant -- including M45 triple jump world record holder Willie Banks -- who is listed as an entry at Puerto Rico but who stayed home to run a series of Wednesday night all-comer meets at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, California.

It also means the masters world championships are a myth. They might not be a priority for many masters. Or expense could be the crucial factor. Or injuries might dissude athletes from entering the meet in time.

In a perfect world, all the best athletes would make it to worlds -- subsidized by their national governing bodies. Or at least encouraged to enter. But in the real world, the Berrys, Tolsons and Upshaw-Margerums toil in obscurity and know only in their hearts that they would have won.

Champions at Puerto Rico should be proud of their efforts. But the powers-that-be in the movement should be ashamed that world masters events are little more than biennial international all-comer meets.

With the growing attraction of World Masters Games, the situation can only grow worse. It's time for some soul-searching on the future of age-group track.

Posted by Ken Stone at 12:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Before the topic gets old and moldy, let's tie up some loose ends on the WMA General Assembly. These national masters delegates met from around 9 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. July 10, 2003, at the Ritz Carlton Carolina (with a break for lunch). Bottom line: A semblance of democracy remains in World Masters Athletics. Like FDR being blocked from packing the Supreme Court, Emperor Torsten Carlius was kept from pushing through his effort to banish term limits -- which potentially could have made him Emperor for Life.

As USATF's Bob Fine wrote me: "You must follow the rules." This was in reference to the exclusion of at least four countries from voting despite their large number of delegates (based on athlete numbers in previous world masters championships).

Fine said Germany, France, Spain and Portugal had to sit out votes because "Under Section 4 (n) of the WMA Constitution each affiliate must submit a list of their delegates 30 days before the Assembly meeting. Spain, France, Germany & Portugal did not."

However, a European source told me: "Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Mexico were (excluded from voting.)"

OK. Whatever.

Fine, a lawyer who helped craft the original WAVA Constitution, further stated:

Torsten and the Council were advised before the meeting that the protest would stand. Because of that, separate (seating) sections A and C were set up. I requested a ruling from the parliamentarian (Monty Hacker) on the point that the Constitution could not be modified at this session. He so ruled. The result was that these countries were not permitted to vote. There was no objection to their having a voice in the deliberations. It probably did not make any difference as the key vote on the elimination of term restrictions would have been defeated even if all of those countries voted to eliminate it.

In the end, says another source, "the WMA General Assembly had 52 voting delegates, 43 nonvoting delegates and 13 council members voting. The no-unlimited term limits would have lost whatever the voter pool was as it was 39 against and only 20 for and two abstentions. The 39 out of 108 would have killed the two-thirds majority vote."

After the USA delegation tried to exclude votes from European countries (partly in at attempt to help New York City win the 2004 World Masters Indoor Championships), the vote went for Sindelfingen, Germany, anyway. The vote was 44 in favor of Sindelfingen, 11 against, 8 no opinion.

By the way, it was Ralph Romain of Trinidad and Tobago who asked for clarification on the matter of excluding countries from voting. The next day, he went out and won the M70 400 meter final in a world age-group record 1:01.01. Must be nice.

A European source writes that afterward European Masters Association Prez Dieter Massin of Germany shook hands with USATF Chairman George Mathews, who congratulated Massin.

Besides the obvious reasons of proximity, why did the Europe-dominated WMA back the WMA Council choice of Germany to host the inaugural world indoor meet? Possibly under the impression that USA visa restrictions prevented some athletes from competing at the Puerto Rico meet.

One source writes:

Yesterday a European told Herbert Jaehtzen (an M50 1500 runner at Carolina): "Well, actually I'm for NYC. But now I've seen the problems for many nations and competitors to come here into PUR. Now I'm going to vote for
Sindelfingen. Masters championships shall be open for every nation and not only the elected nations the US-government wants to invite."

Now where in the heck did THAT come from? All I know about visa problems is my pure speculation that Cuba couldn't send some former Olympians, including 800 star Ana Fidelia Quirot. Despite many attempts to clear up this matter, I still don't know why Quirot and a few others never made it to Carolina.

Anyway, said my source: Life goes on: Let's now have a great party and event next March in Germany, let's have "Championships of friendships" like Massin told in his presentation of Sindelfingen (and probably in NYC 2006) at the
Ritz Carlton."

OK. Party on, dudes!

Posted by Ken Stone at 4:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

On a fortuitous 7/11, David Ashford of Illinois put his money where his spikes are -- shattering the M40 world record in the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 13.73 seconds (into a slight wind). Highlighting a season in which he and his agent promised a masters record in the event, Ashford beat the record and the former record holder in the same race -- the finals of the WMA World Championships in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Karl Smith of Jamaica saw his 13.96 record from 2001 Brisbane eclipsed, but at age 43 Smith clocked 14.24 to smash the old single-age record of 14.9 by American Walt Butler in 1984.

The results:

Finals
1 Ashford, Dave M40 United States 13.73* -0.5 13.13 98.32%
2 Smith, Karl M43 Jamaica 14.24 -0.5 13.29 97.19%
3 Patterson, Glenn M41 United States 14.61 -0.5 13.86 93.16%
4 Wilkinson, Des M40 Great Britain 15.30 -0.5 14.63 88.24%
5 Hayrapetyan, Gerasim M44 Armenia 16.02 -0.5 14.82 87.14%
6 Patry, Marc M42 France 16.10 -0.5 15.15 85.28%
7 Reddington, Glen M40 Great Britain 16.21 -0.5 15.50 83.28%
8 Drabben, Helmut M44 The Netherlands 16.98 -0.5 15.71 82.21%

Ashford had served notice of his ability to run sub-14 at Wednesday's prelims, when he ran a sensational 14.02 -- nearly two seconds ahead of the runner-up in Heat 1. Heat 2 was won by Jamaica's Smith.

Ashford has set the bar far higher than anyone might have expected, having run 14.11 a year ago over the 39-inch (high school) hurdles. Just goes to show what turning 40 -- and having the world record holder in the same race -- can do for you.

Posted by Ken Stone at 6:18 PM | Permalink

The plot thickens. According to a witness of yesterday's WMA General Assembly in Carolina, Puerto Rico, some European delegations -- including those of Germany and France -- were barred from voting. Since Germany had one of the biggest voting blocs in Puerto Rico, this would be a huge blow to WMA democracy. I'm still trying to sort out this story -- which has a number of distressing wrinkles.

The witness writes:

A rule was added to the constitution in Brisbane requiring all affiliates to submit a written list of delegates to the WMA secretary at least 20 days before the assembly. According to the rule, if you did not comply, you could not vote. It turns out, many did not, including Germany, France, and others. . . . Torsten (Carlius) started the meeting by acknowledging that the affiliates in sections A and C had not complied with the requirement to pre-register. But he said that the WMA Council was in favor of allowing them to vote anyway, as long as no affiliate lodged a protest. A guy from Trinidad and Tobago stood up to ask for clarification, but his question was not considered a protest. Then Bob Fine, on behalf of USA got up and formally protested. Torsten asked the USA to withdraw its protest, which Bob declined to do. Monty Hacker (I think) then ruled that the non-compliant affiliates could not vote as stiuplated by the constitution.

Stay tuned.

Posted by Ken Stone at 10:58 AM | Permalink

The desert has shrunk. The entry age of men for masters competition will now be the same as women: 35 (pending a rubber stamp by the IAAF). This is long overdue -- and represents the first fundamental change in defining masters since David Pain initiated the men 40/women 35 entry ages in the late 1960s. Besides meaning a huge potential influx in participants (and corresponding increase in revenues for WMA and national governing bodies), it also helps grow the sport by making track and field accessible to to an age group that in the past has been limited to mainly elite/open events.

Why the original 35/40 women/men discrepancy in masters ages? I described the history thusly once during a profile of masters pioneer Pain:

But what should the age cutoff be? Pain noticed that most of the interested athletes, like himself, were in their 40s — and that runners in their 30s still competed in open meets. So 40 would become the entry point to masters competition. Later, Pain noticed that the wives and girlfriends of masters entrants were about five years younger. So age 35 became the rubicon for female masters.

Meanwhile, Suzy Hess of National Masters News also has filled in some other blanks on the General Assembly votes.

Hess, publisher of NMN and vice chair of USATF Masters, writes (and I add my comments):

2. We voted to RETAIN term limits for officers!

(Thank goodness! If WMA had allowed WMA Council members to run for office forever, entrenched politicos could accumulate even more clout than they have now. They'd be able to extend more favors to various affiliates, thus ensuring a calcification of the WMA leadership -- which is old enough (and white enough) now as is.)

3. Having a World Indoor meet passed.

(This is good.)

4. Having it in Sindelfingen, Germany for 2004 passed.

(This is not so good. WMA delegates betrayed their Eurocentric outlook by voting to have the WMA hold three consecutive world meets in Europe -- Germany (2004 indoors), Spain (2005 outdoors) and Italy (2007 outdoors). And this despite New York's acknowledged supremacy after WMA inspections. Was the inspection report ever made available to WMA delegates?)

5. The World Masters Games shall be an item on the agenda for each General
Assembly.

(As it should be, since these Games threaten to make WMA world meets moot. And with WMA President Torsten Carlius a member of the International Masters Games Association governing board, whose interests are being served first?)

6. Change in the By Law for conflict of interest by a Council Member was
withdrawn by U.S.

(This is very interesting -- the USATF withdrawing its proposal to explicitly discourage WMA Council profiteering. It's possible that existing WMA rules and bylaws already prohibit such conflicts of interest, but then what would be the harm in coming right out and saying so?)

7. Changes in the implements for women's events was defeated.

(That'll save a lot of people some bread.)

8. The weight (throw) as an individual WMA event at the indoor and outdoor was
approved!

(As expected -- since the weight throw is part of the weight pentathlon, already a WMA world meet staple. This is a big victory for USA throwers, since Americans are big into this hammer-like event.)

9. WMA will reconsider the events in the men's and women's outdoor pentathlon.

(And who will be in charge of this review? And when will final decisions be made? By the WMA Council or the General Assembly?)

10. Adopting the current rule regarding the IAAF false start was defeated. It
will remain the same as in the past for masters.

(Thank goodness. Masters don't need the headache of traveling thousands of miles for an event only to be DQ'd for a twitch. The current rules are adequate to punish flyer-seekers.)

11. Only one competition number shall be required in throwing events -- passed.

(Wonderful that WMA should tackle such serious and substantive issues.)

Posted by Ken Stone at 9:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Four years ago, when I attended the WAVA General Assembly at Gateshead, England, I was impressed by the technology that (via headphones) provided translations of debates in many languages to the voting delegates. I wish WMA would show some tech savvy today. It's now 1 a.m. Pacific team, long after the close of the WMA General Assembly meeting yesterday at The Ritz-Carlton San Juan Hotel Spa & Casino, and I haven't a clue on what's transpired.

Many crucial questions were to be resolved yesterday:

Was the men's entry age for masters reduced from 40 to 35?

Was an inaugural WMA World Masters Indoor Championships OK'd for 2004?

If so, was it awarded to Sindelfingen, New York or Malmo?

Were term limits on WMA Council officers scrapped?

Was this USATF proposal approved:

Any Council Member who receives any recompense in any administration of any National and/or International Masters’ events shall so indicate the amount of recompense on the WMA website and shall not vote on any matter involving an event in which they are receiving any compensation. Removal from the Council shall be automatic for failure to comply with this Bye-Law.

Did this German proposal pan out:

Entry fees for WMA World Championships shall be fixed. These entry fees have to apply to all championships and may not be changed by the local organizer.

What about this Aussie idea:

WMA shall not adopt the current IAAF rule regarding one false start.

I've written to a half-dozen masters officials in Carolina, hoping they will shed light on this latest masters mystery. If anyone who reads this has any idea on the various votes, PLEASE post a comment below.

Posted by Ken Stone at 1:14 AM | Permalink

Dave Ashford of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, came THIS close to breaking the M40 world record in the 110 hurdles yesterday in Puerto Rico. Running with a legal (0.2 mps) wind, Ashford clocked a sensational 14.02 in the prelims -- nearly two seconds ahead of the runner-up in Heat 1.

Heat 2 was won by USA-based Jamaican Karl Smith -- who set the current M40 world record of 13.96 two years ago in the Brisbane world finals -- the milestone 13.96. Yesterday, also with 0.2 aiding wind, Smith ran 14.67 to set up one of the best showdowns of the meet. The M40 finals are Friday afternoon.

Other highlights from Wednesday:

Allan Williams of Britain won the M50 pole vault at 4.25 (13-11 1/4) as American favorite Steve Hardison no-heighted. Hardison, a three-time NAIA national champion, has cleared 4.11 this year and 4.27 indoors last year.

Poland's Anna Wlodarczyk, fourth place in the dramatic Moscow Olympic long jump in 1980, won the same event here in W50 with a legal 5.20 (17-0 3/4) short of Phil Raschker's world age-group record of 5.40 (17-8 1/2).

For her part, Raschker took silver in the W55 long jump. Germany's Ingrid Meier, jumped a legal 4.98 (16-4) to Phil's 4.74 (15-6 1/4). Ingrid fell just short of the W55 world record of 5.01 (16-5 1/4) by Germany's Christiane Schmalbruch.

A day after winning the M50 200 final is a still-unknown time (due to photo camera malfunction after a lightning strike), American Bill Collins was a scratch from the M50 400 prelims, leaving Ed Gonera an easier path to gold.

Perhaps the most remarkable women's mark yesterday was the 57.07 for 400 meters in the W45 prelims by Marie Lande Mathieu, 46, of Puerto Rico. The world age-group record is 56.82, set at the Buffalo WAVA world meet in 1995. Marie was a member of a Puerto Rico 4x400 relay team that qualified for the finals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics but did not start.

Another great performance yesterday was put on by American multi-event star Leonore McDaniels in the W75 long jump finals. Her series: 3.33, 3.21, 3.03, 3.32, 3.32. All marks were legal except the last. Her winning effort of 3.33 (10-11) fell just one centimeter short of tying the listed world age-group record of 3.34 by Germany's Paula Schneiderhan in 1997. But McDaniels jumped 3.38 (11-1) last month at the National Senior Games in Norfolk, Virginia -- a mark that WMA may ignore.

Finally, world M40 long jump record holder Aaron Sampson backed up his 25-2 1/2 mark of last year by winning the Puerto Rico long jump title yesterday with a wind-aided (4.1 mps) leap of 7.08 (23-2 3/4).

Today is a rest day -- but no rest for the wicked. The WMA General Assembly will meet at the Ritz Carlton Hotel to consider a slew of major proposals for changes in the WMA bylaws and Constitution, including a proposal to lower the entry age for men to 35 from 40 years old. Stay tuned.

Posted by Ken Stone at 12:59 AM | Permalink

Mystery is half-solved. Bill Collins beat Ed Gonera for the M50 title at 200 yesterday in Puerto Rico -- but we may never know his true winning time.

Results from WMA worlds site show:

1 Collins, Bill M52 United States NT NWI
2 Gonera, Edward M51 United States NT NWI
3 Bowen, Robert M51 United States NT NWI
3 Oliver, Viv M51 Great Britain NT NWI
-- Norman, Jesse M52 United States NT
-- Regales, Siegfried M50 Netherland Antilles NT
-- Franklyn, Walwyn M50 Great Britain NT
-- Freeman, Peter M51 Canada NT

* Timing Malfunction

Earlier, I received this note from Roger Jennings, a principal in the Flash Results timing business handling the results and timing functions in Carolina:

Sadly there was a timing malfunction at Sixto Escobar for that race. They had a major lightning storm come through which delayed the event and damaged the photofinish cameras (a replacement was put in place but wasn't configured correctly in time for the finish). They did award medals to the top three (I'm not sure why the didn't post the results for them yet. I was working at Clemente. Hopefully they'll get them posted this morning.

Also a puzzle is why the local organizers didn't provide backup hand-timers, as is the case in most major national and international meets. (Maybe the timing crew was moved out of harm's way -- but the athletes were left to depend on luck in the storm.)

It's a crying shame that one of the biggest showdowns in the meet has gone untimed. Perhaps a world record was missed as a result.

Posted by Ken Stone at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

In 1978, I interviewed four-time Olympic discus champion Al Oerter. In my story for Track & Field News, I repeated what Oerter had famously said years before: "These are the Olympics. You die for them." Now we're seeing that creed play out in Carolina. The latest example: Phil Raschker.

Phil, a Masters Hall of Famer whom I call "The Legend," has won countless world titles and set dozens of age-group records since her masters emergence around 1984. Nearly 20 years later, competing in W55, this self-employed 56-year-old tax accountant from Marietta, Georgia, is huffing and puffing through pain -- and a flu bug -- in Puerto Rico.

On Monday, the rest day of the 15th World Masters Athletics Championships, Phil wrote me:

Good news is I got the gold (in the heptathlon). Bad news is that after the first 200 meters in the 800 race, in which I felt very strong, the hammy just tightened up again to the point that I almost had to come to a walk then picking it back up a bit, then slowing down again. Overall I was very surprised that I even came up with a 3:15. I never saw/felt this one coming, and at this point will have to wait and see what and how much I will be able to do from here on in.