Masters Track News and Muse

First the AP story. Then my thoughts.

PARIS (AP) -- Edwin Moses retired from track and field 14 years ago as one of the greatest athletes the sport has known. He's returning to hurdling at 48 with a goal of qualifying for next year's U.S. Olympic trials. The two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 400-meter hurdles and winner of 122 consecutive races over almost a decade announced a "limited comeback" Sunday.

I'm intrigued by the range of opinion on how fast Edwin Moses will run the 400 hurdles in 2004. Now let's make a contest of it. Predict the fastest time Edwin will run before the U.S. Olympic Trials in mid-July. The seer closest to the mark wins a masterstrack.com T-shirt!

At Puerto Rico in August, the General Assembly of World Masters Athletics voted to reduce the entry age for masters men from 40 to 35 (starting in 2004). As a result, we have a pretty pickle: What are the world records for this new age group? I've gone through recent IAAF top lists and consulted an online rankings maintained by Hanserik Pettersson to come up with this list of M35 bests (and thus world masters records):

Masters pole vaulter Doug "Bubba" Sparks passes along this chilling but ultimately hopeful note:

I got this from a friend that most of us know regarding a recent dangerous situation resulting from a pole break. Greg Charles is a three-time USATF Masters Champion and a friend for many years. Rule #1 -- No matter how experienced you are, do not vault alone. Greg is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met and the father of triplets. I'm not saying I would not have gone out myself alone as I have from time to time. I won't again. Have fun and be safe. Bubba

Athletics Weekly, the British track magazine, interviewed some prominent ex-hurdlers on the comeback of Edwin Moses, aiming for a 50.5 Olympic Trials qualifying time in the 400-meter hurdles. Some eye-openers. Some folks consider Moses a slam-dunk to run 50-point.