Masters Track News and Muse

Happy new year! And welcome to the new world order of Mark Cleary's Masters Invitational Program. These are races (never field events) conducted as exhibition events at the USATF open indoor and outdoor nationals (and a select few other meets, such as Millrose and the Drake Relays). After several years of being hammered for catering to younger age groups exclusively, Chairman Mark has devised a new system -- if you call pitting age group against age group a system.

So Mark Cleary and others insist that their hands are tied -- that meet directors of the USA open nationals allow only running events from 100 to the mile in the masters exhibitions. No field events. Mark and others insist that they're under orders to "present fields that please meet directors." OK, fine. But I can answer both objections with two words: Willie Banks. Or Bud Held. Or any of a couple dozen high-profile former elites in the jumps and throws.

Dieter Baumann, the German Olympic 5000-meter champ who famously blamed doctored toothpaste for a steroids violation, has run some road races recently as an M40, reports the Track & Field News message board Annette Koop's masters track "seite" also mentions Baumann's comeback. Baumann's third-place finish in a New Year's Eve race is described on the IAAF Web site.

My recent boycott-the-nationals post has prompted a raft of insightful replies -- mostly critical of my analysis. That's fine. The debate is long overdue, and even if I prove to be dead wrong, I'm proud of provoking some careful thinking on an issue that's pretty much been left to a handful of people. One thoughtful response came from many-time world sprint champ Steve Robbins. He writes from an elite's perspective.

M75 German sprinter/jumper Wolfgang Reuter has been named Europe's "Best Male Veteran" athlete, according to Annette and Robert Koop and the Eurovets Web site. The best European woman is W65 hurdler Rietje Dijkman of Holland, of course. Last year she won Female Athlete of the Year honors from WMA and IAAF.

W40 Alisa Harvey and W45 Leslie Chaplin-Swann did in one meet what few masters runners do in a lifetime: set American age-group records in two events. As the MAC association Web site confirms, Harvey of Virginia and Chaplin-Swann of Georgia made the most of their trip to the Big Apple in late-December, setting records in the 800 and 1500 at the indoor Holiday Classic. You'd think USATF would go ape-shit over this news and make a to-do. Not yet, at least. Guess nobody told them.

Don't be shy. Last weekend's record-setters (Alisa Harvey, Lesley Chaplin-Swann and Neni Lewis) should have topped the News & Notes press release that USATF sends out to a gazillion media contacts. Bob Weiner and his USATF Masters T&F Media Subcommittee do a great job spreading the word around the time of nationals (indoors and out), but the rest of the year tends to fall through the cracks.

Nearly 10 years ago, a church friend of ours had a serious stroke. Paralyzed on one side of his body, Don could barely speak, couldn't walk and struggled to be understood. But he communicated through moans and smiles. I volunteered to take him to pool rehab. I helped him changed into his trunks, and accompanied him into the pool, where a trainer guided him through therapy. When I moved my family south 40 miles, I had to say goodbye to Don. How could I show my admiration for his courage and heart? I draped around his neck one of my national championship relay medals.

Sharp eyes may have noticed that our home page now registers 800,000-plus views on the hit counter. It's kind of bogus, since we reached that figure years ago sitewide. But 800K looks cool. How many times has the whole site been accessed since December 1999 (when Dave Clingan and I merged our sites)? I haven't a clue. Millions maybe. But I'm certain of something: You ain't seen nuthin yet.

Last May, John Keston, an 80-year-old Oregon man, ran a mile in 6:48.3. It smashed the listed M80 world outdoor best by 63 seconds. A slam dunk for an American record? Not by a long shot. John averaged 1:42 a lap at the Oregon Relays on May 14, 2005. How fast is that? Only six American men in his age group last year ran a faster 400-meter dash! His mark -- beating the world record 7:51.9 by American Henry Sypniewski in June 2000 -- was a milestone in masters track. But Sandy Pashkin, records chairwoman for USATF Masters Track and Field, opposed the record application and led the USATF Records Committee to reject it.

Every few years, a couple fresh-faced college kids show up at masters nationals, sitting behind a card table and asking our help. "Would you please complete this 120-page questionnaire on every competition you've ever entered?" Or something like that. Usually, we graciously assent. Academic types don't often take our measure, we figure. Might as well help the young'ns. But I'm getting tired of this drill becuz we rarely see the results of these studies.

Olympian Ruth Wysocki was one of the few American middle-distance runners to challenge (and beat) Mary Decker Slaney in the 1980s. But after rabbiting in Europe at some big-name meets in her 30s, Ruth retreated to Southern California domesticity, which includes raising a runner son. Now she's piped up on a T&FN Message Board talking about an "unlikely" masters comeback in 2007, when she turns 50. But she was the one who brought it up. Of course, I egged her on.

Dave Clingan has posted this on the Keston petition page and circulated the same note to all involved: "I would like to thank everyone who has come forward to support the Keston mile record petition. The response has given me cause to believe that athletes really care about these issues and their opinions can make a difference."

World Masters Athletics is reporting on entries at the WMA world indoor championships in Linz (with parenthetical comments being WMA's): "The entries are just partly registered, but so far more than 2,000 athletes are counted. Leading is Germany (up to now 650 and more are expected), second place to the host, Austria, with 432 (a fantastic surprise!), Great Britain 260, France 153, USA 85 (plus further entries the next days), Spain 83, Belgium 61, Finland 52. Even South Africa will come with 7 athletes. Percy Hirsch is convinced that Linz set a new attendance record in WMA's Indoor-history."

In December, the Southern California Association of USATF was honored as Association of the Year at USATF's annual meeting in Jacksonville, Florida. Last week, that same association gave some of its leaders the boot, including Masters VP Mark Cleary and SCA President Mo Haneef, the father of a U.S. volleyball Olympian. An election of SCA members Jan. 11 resulted in a major shake-up in officers. Don't know all the whys and wherefores, but I have the results (and some eyewitness reports) from two sources.

In recent years, World Masters Athletics has been talking with the International Masters Games Association about coordination of their respective showcase events -- the WMA world outdoor championships and the World Masters Games. Originally, the World Masters Games were held in even-numbered years. In 2005, the WMG were held the same summer as WMA worlds. So Edmonton stole some thunder from San Sebastian. Not only did M50 sprint champ Bill Collins go to Edmonton, but the money went there also. Big money.

Although runnercentric, a current thread on the T&FN Message Broad is intriguing reading. And inspirational -- if not instructive. It's titled "Hardest t&f workout you've ever done?" and the responses number over 60 at the moment. My toughest workouts were in college, but my most memorable was during my junior year in high school: running 40 sets of 10 high hurdles. That's 400 hurdles. (Next-day correction: Make that 20 sets; had a senior moment. --ken) But it was five-stepping them at a fast-jog pace. Still, it got my trail leg pretty strong. So what's your toughest masters workout? Specify age please.

Here we go again. Based on a tip, I wrote to new WMA President Cesare Beccalli, asking him if he were aware of a doping case at last summer's World Masters Athletic Championships in San Sebastian, Spain. He said yes. He wrote me today: "In fact there has been a doping case -- I have been informed, without details; I only know the name of the person and the fact that he is a German competitor."

We dodged a bullet. According to organizers of the masters 4x4 relays at the Millrose Games in February, full complements of club teams are good to go in both the men's and women's races. All lanes filled (with an alternate team ready to step in for a missing women's club.) This averts the embarrassment of having masters events with few entrants -- which might have spelled doom for future masters involvement at Millrose, one of the most prestigious indoor track meets in the world.

The oldest masters track event in the eastern United States, founded by the late Jim Hartshorne, is a series of indoor miles that now bear his name at Cornell University, his alma mater in Ithaca, New York. With a potential $900 payout to record-setters, the races being held Saturday again have golden potential. Event director Rick Hoebeke has shared the entry lists, which are a Who's Who of masters miling, including M40 legend Tony Young of Washington state, flying out for the fun of it.

A couple days ago, WMA Prez Cesare Beccalli replied to my query about a drug positive test at the San Sebastian world championships -- and said the offending athlete is German. Now I get a note from a German source who says Dieter Massin, head of the European Veterans Athletic Association, insists the athlete in question is NOT German. Ohhhh-kay! Meanwhile, a British masters official -- Winston Thomas -- told me he couldn't divulge the athlete's ID but could reveal that the "illegal" substance in question was a medication (and not a traditional performance-enhancer.)

Jim Reilly and Mary Rosado have provided more details on the club selection for the Millrose Games masters 4x4 relays -- probably more info than you need to know. But what the heck. I was curious (and some correspondents were, too.) Jim wrote: "I compiled the team entries and verified team times. Once the 1/9 date passed I sent the list to Mary Rosado who made the final decision. We asked for a team relay time from within the last 12 months that we can check."

Some of my greatest track moments were anchoring the shuttle low hurdle relay for Valencia High School in the 1969 and 1970 seasons. I didn't even mind running AGAINST the hurdles! Those were the days! But masters don't run shuttles. (I've seen only one reference to such a race in 10 years of looking.) Against this backdrop steps in M45 hurdler Jeff Davison of Southern California.

Ten years ago this summer, according to Frey-like legend, M40 vaulter Larry Jessee cleared 5.50 meters at a single-event meet in his hometown of El Paso, Texas. He submitted paperwork to USATF and WAVA and got credit for being the first masters jumper over 18 feet. No other vaulter believes it. But hope is on the horizon for a legit 18-footer at age 40-plus: Pat Manson. Recently, at age 38, he cleared 18-0 1/2 indoors. It was his 21st consecutive year topping 18 -- and creams the listed American M35 record of 5.08 (16-8) by Gary Hunter. (Of course, Pat jumped 5.50 three years ago at age 35 in the same meet and hasn't gotten credit for the M35 indoor AR. What else is new?)

A message thread on letsrun.com and a phone call this afternoon informed me of a 4:20 run by M40 stud Tony Young yesterday at the Hartshorne masters miles at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Apparently, he had help from a rabbit through 1320 (who clocked 3:08) but wasn't pushed by anyone else. So he fell short of his hoped-for 4:10 mile (and a shot at the American indoor record). So it goes.

Results are in from Ithaca, thanks to hard-working masters maven and bugmeister Rick Hoebeke, who writes: "It was a great day for Masters competitors! Marisa Hanson set a new Hartshorne Masters Mile record (5:02.69) (old record: Patty Blanchard - 5:08.6, 2003). Tony Young may not have had his best race, but still won pulling away (no one close) (4:20.72). Anselm LeBourne was unable to attend because of illness. Don't think for a minute, though, that he has lost his stuff!"

Ithaca Journal running columnist Diane Sherrer reports a dramatic postscript to the Hartshorne masters miles at Cornell University. She writes: "Interesting footnote: Mike Trunkes of New Paltz, one of the invited M40 elites, saved a life at our post-race party at the Boatyard. A regular patron, not part of our group, had a heart attack and landed on the floor. Mike, a 25-year lifeguard and swim instructor, jumped up to check on the guy. He was blue and not breathing. Using CPR, he revived the guy and he was then taken to the hospital. Not sure of the outcome. The local responders let Mike do it, and were very impressed with his skills."

USATF names an Athlete of the Week about 52 times a year, and sometimes perplexes folks. This week's honoree, 42-year-old miler Marisa Hanson of Pleasant Valley, N.Y., is a plausible pick. She set an outstanding meet record at the hallowed Hartshorne races last weekend. But another good choice would have been Carolyn Smith-Hanna of Pittsford, N.Y., who set a world indoor W55 record of 5:43.75 at Hartshorne (taking 12th out of 12 in the race won by Hanson).

Results have been posted as a PDF for the Oceania Track & Field Championships, part of the Oceania Masters Games in Christchuch, New Zealand. Oldest entrant was an M90 sprinter named Syd Taylor from New Zealand. The weeklong meet ended Jan. 21. Note the interesting event sponsors -- Antigua Boat Shed Cafe for hurdles, Brownies Mattress Service for steeplechase, etc. Wonder hoe much rest that gave the runners.

The mystery? Well, Olympian Gail skipped the 2005 track season after biting off more than she could chew at the Athens Olympics, where she tried for a 100-100 hurdles double. (She pulled up in a hurdles heat.) And the question on many people's minds was: Has she retired? The answer came today in a USATF news release. She's entered the 60-meter hurdles at the Millrose Games in NYC. And at age 39 (she turns 40 in November), she'll be the oldest sprinter in the elite portion of the meet.

Quarter-milers like to say they run the last 100 meters with something on their back -- a horse, a refrigerator, a planet. But the last 100 is easy as a feather for M50 dashman Frank Schiro. He's carried a far worse burden: heroin and alcohol addiction. Still attending A.A. meetings, Frank told me his story last year and sent me a book on the history of heroin that included a chapter on his case. Then I asked for an interview. He graciously granted my request, and it's now online.

A British M35 runner got some ink in his local paper, the first of potentially hundreds of stories about masters preparing for the World Masters Indoor Championships in Linz, Austria. America's 90-plus entrants at Linz are due some publicity, too. But first USATF has to release the roster of Team USA. Thankfully, that information is pending.

A two-day pole vault competition held in a Reno hotel ballroom wrapped up tonight, but masters results are hard to come by. In previous years, Nadine O'Connor and Bud Held have set or threatened masters age-group records there. This year, someone posted to a masters message board that a W40 jumper went 9 feet 7 inches (and erroneously called that an American masters record.) But apparently the W40 age-group record fell. The listed record is 2.60 meters by Donna Schultz of Oregon at age 41. But Phil Raschker went 3.31 in the W45 age group. The event Web site hasn't updated its results links yet.

Jim Barrineau isn't M45 anymore, but he knows a good jump in that age group when he sees one. He wrote today: "Watched Bruce McBarnette jump 1.95m for a new 45-49 Indoor World record today in Landover, MD, with room to spare. Not really close on any of his 1.98 jumps. I managed a game 1.78 (5-10 in M50 age group). If he can stay fit for another two years, he may be the only guy capable of threatening Z-man's 50 record."

The old slur is "Those who can't, teach." That doesn't apply to Coach Paul Babits of Indiana. Paul, who guides aspiring stickjumpers at his camps in Fort Wayne, just turned 45. And over the weekend, Paul cleared 4.80 (15-9) for an M45 world indoor record at the National Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nevada. Paul topped the listed M45 record of 4.78 (15-8 1/4) by Gary Hunter of Indiana in March 2001 at Boston masters nationals. Gary was third at Reno, and if he's in M50, his 4.30 (14-1 1/4) was just short of the listed M50 American age-group record of 4.32 (14-2) by Vincent Struble of North Carolina at Boston masters nationals in March 2002. (The listed M50 record is 4.63 (15-2 1/4) by Germany's Wolfgang Ritte in February 2004.

It doesn't take a lawyer to get a world record ratified, but it helps. Attorney Bruce McBarnette isn't shy about letting the world know of his high jump exploits, and he says a record application is in the works, writing me: "The meet director was Henry McCallum. He was one of three certifying officials. Melvin Fields and Herbert Nicholls were the others. They are sending a form to Sandy Pashkin." He also sent a press release giving details on his new M45 world indoor record.

USATF has posted an event-by-event list (link fixed 2/01/06) of the 90-plus American entrants in the Linz world masters indoor championships. The list comes in a second flavor -- with athletes listed alphabetically. Looks as if Bill Collins is entered in but one individual event: the 60-meter dash. Maybe he'll run some M55 relays.

Paul Suzuki officiated at events other than masters track, of course. It was at the USATF national open championships last year where he was killed by a shot during warmups. But he was well-known on the Southern California masters circuit as the smiling red jacket with the starter's pistol. Now his son Vincent sends word of a fundraising basketball tournament named for him and honoring his life.

After Indiana coach Paul Babits cleared an indoor world M45 world record at Reno last weekend (15-9), I shot him a note with a few queries about the National Pole Vault Summit experience: What was your height progression? What kind of pole did you use? He got back to me today. Also, I'm happy to report that USATF included his record (as well as Bruce McBarnette's in the M45 high jump) in its News & Notes edition of Jan. 30.