Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Meet Ruben Whitney, saying farewell to his M35 USA 100 record
In response to an email, Ruben Whitney gave me a call Monday morning. Yes, THE Ruben Whitney — holder since 1980 of the M35 American record of 10.3 seconds for 100 meters. By inattention, ignorance and incompetence, at least seven Yanks besides Justin Gatlin who ran sub-10.3 have failed to get credit for beating Ruben’s […]
August 7, 2017
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Nearly 80 Americans set for Toronto are world or national champs
Bob Weiner’s news release on WMA Toronto regionals includes a nifty chart by Mary Trotto noting the Yanks with current world or national titles — 77 by her count. “In addition to USA and Canada, nations represented at the meet include Mexico, Australia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Belize, Panama, Trinidad and […]
August 6, 2017
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Clock starts! When will the M35 records for 100 meters be updated?
The August 1980 issue of National Masters News carried this buried item on page 3: “Bill Seldon reports that on June 14 Ruben Whitney of San Antonio, Texas, tied the 35-39 world mark for the 100. Whitney’s 10.3 would break the existing American mark of 10.4. set by Mel Pender in 1973. It would tie […]
August 5, 2017
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Yanks outnumber Canucks at Toronto WMA regional championships
Entrants are posted here for Toronto’s North and Central America and Caribbean Region WMA Championships — aka the We Bailed Out Mexico Meet. From Katty Abran to Debbie Zinman, both Canadians, the list includes 948 athletes, including submasters like Olympian Walter Dix. The most interesting stat? Team USA accounts for 385 athletes — more than […]
August 3, 2017
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London schmondon; USATF masters throwers plan strong meet, too
More than 80 weightfolk are entered this weekend in the USATF Masters Throws Championships at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Many big names are coming, including Ray Feick, Tim Morse, Tim Muller, Larry Rheams, Patrick Toland, Carol Finsrud, Neni Lewis, Gloria Krug, Myrle Mensey and Mary Roman. It’s basically a meet to […]
August 2, 2017
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Emil Pawlik gets early start on 2018 WMA worlds in Malaga, Spain
M75 multi-eventer Emil Pawlik, a 2004 Masters Hall of Famer, has good years and great years. He’s having a good one in 2017 — his 30th in our niche sport — and gearing up for a great one in 2018. His local paper reports his secret: “Pawlik, a self-described early riser, is on a high […]
August 1, 2017
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Tributes pour in for Monte Upshaw, Joy’s dad and track inspiration
Joy Upshaw is a Masters Hall of Famer in large part because of her dad’s example and inspiration, not to mention his genes. Monte Upshaw in 1954 broke Jesse Owens’ high school long jump record. Joy, and her younger sister, Grace, went on to snap other long jump records in masters and college ranks. Grace […]
July 30, 2017
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Scott McPherson lays out theories on how he tested positive at ABQ
In my Times of San Diego story on M60 walker Scott McPherson and his four-year doping ban, I report that USADA found no other drug positives at Albuquerque indoor nationals. So that’s newsy news. The rest is Scott’s theories on how steroids entered his system. I also quote a USADA spokeswoman at length saying they […]
July 28, 2017
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Denmark hosting strongest 2017 outdoor masters meet in the world
Don’t look now, but the best masters track meet this summer has started in Denmark. It’s the European Masters Athletics Championships, aka WMA regionals. Well, do look. The folks in Aarhus are likely to be your competition at 2018 worlds in Malaga, Spain. The meet continues through Aug. 6, with the sked here. They have […]
July 27, 2017
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M60 Scott McPherson on USADA 4-year doping sanction: ‘I’m done’
Scott McPherson of Lubbock, Texas, called me Wednesday to talk about his 4-year doping ban by USADA. Yes, he’s the optometrist I found online. No, he’s not a drug cheat. He calls this case “comical” because he’s been race walking only a year as a hobby. Here’s what I learned in a 20-minute chat: He’s […]
July 26, 2017
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