Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Bill Carter dies at 94; pentathlon legend holds M80 American record

Bill Carter’s last major season was 2010, when he won the M85 pentathlon at Sacramento nationals. But his Dallas Masters TC friends took note of his passing Jan. 2 at age 94. Bill was nominated for the Masters Hall of Fame at least once. The former track coach out of Marlow, Oklahoma, won many national […]

January 7, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

Commercial with old runner in nursing home is touching but bunk

With 4.7 million views on YouTube, this would-be adidas commercial by Eugen Merher has become a cult classic with runners. Eugen is a 26-year-old German film student who once studied at Oregon. The 99-second spot pulls at heartstrings, but it’s full of baloney. What nursing home would discourage an aged runner from donning his old […]

January 6, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  13 Comments

Nigeria reports attempted ‘visa racketeering’ at WMA Perth worlds

Last September, some Nigerians wanted to go to Australia – and not come back. At least nine guys or gals noticed Perth worlds and entered the meet to gain visas. It apparently didn’t work, because WMA checked with Nigeria’s masters affiliate. (See the story.) But NAM was embarrassed. We forgive you. Now we learn: “The […]

January 5, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Irene Obera, Aussie Jamieson named WMA Best Masters of 2016

Irene Obera’s stated goal for the 2015 season, when she was 82, was being named WMA Female Masters Athlete of the Year. She didn’t get it. (W55 Silke Schmidt did.) WMA made up for that oversight Tuesday. She and Aussie racewalker Andrew Jamieson are 2016’s Best Masters Athletes of the Year. (Andrew also won in […]

January 4, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  19 Comments

WMA superchampions deserve prize money; start with Daegu

In the course of reporting Nick Symmonds’ impending retirement, The New York Times says the 800 specialist wants the IOC to share 50 percent of its $4 billion-plus in quadrennial revenue with the 14,400 winter and summer Olympic athletes who compete every four years. “This 50/50 sharing approximates a standard business model in American professional […]

January 3, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  20 Comments

W65 Angela Copson cops Queen’s honor for services to running

W90 royal Queen Elizabeth likes masters track! Or at least the committees of civil servants who pick end-of-year honors after nominations by the government and public. Athletics Weekly notes some trackos that got QE2 love. Angela Copson, the WR lady who turns 70 in April, is one of the honorees “for services to Running.” An […]

January 2, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

2 thumbs up from Rex Harvey on WMA Competitions Committee

Rex Harvey, our world-traveled national chair, used to be WMA vice president for stadia, meaning he was in charge of world meet quality control. When the makeup of the new Competitions Committee came to my attention, I asked Rex for his thoughts. He graciously shared a note praising the panel as highly qualified “and a […]

January 1, 2017   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Peter Hlavin’s high jump heaven: meeting Fosbury, Bondarenko

Former M55 AR high jumper Peter Hlavin of Southern California attended Willie Banks’ track camp the past two days in Chula Vista. “Thought I could use a high jump tune-up and I’m always open to learning new things,” he reports. “Wow! What a great time hanging out and being coached by Dick Fosbury.  As everyone […]

December 31, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  5 Comments

3 Americans on WMA world meet oversight Competition Committee

Ontario’s Brian Keaveney is chair of the new WMA Competition Committee, which apparently replaces the old Stadia and Non-stadia committees. He’s cherry-picking his staff, which includes three Americans with long experience in meet management, scheduling and officiating. The Yanks are Carroll DeWeese, Bill Murray and Sandy Pashkin. These folks played similar roles on the USATF […]

December 30, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

WMA dragging its feet on revealing World Best Masters of 2016?

Will 2017 get here before we learn who WMA picks as 2016 Athletes of the Year, aka World Best Masters? Notes have been shot to WMA President Stan Perkins and webmaster Jeff Brower. Hope to hear from them soon. In the meantime, John Seto of mastersrankings.com has compiled a list of the athletes with the […]

December 29, 2016   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment