Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Danny McFarlane’s M35 world record ignored anew

Jamaica’s Danny McFarlane, who turned 35 in June, ran the 400-meter hurdles in 48.32 on Aug. 26. This shattered the listed M35 world record of 48.93 by American Nat Page in 1992. But will Danny’s mark be ratified? Don’t count on it. The mark occurred in the semifinals at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka […]

August 29, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  3 Comments

M75 vaulter overcomes two bypasses, stroke, other ills

John Gracey, an M75 vaulter in New Grenada, Pennsylvania, plays with pain. How much? According to Joel Rineer’s Sunday piece in the Chambersburg Public Opinion: “Gracey . . . has had to endure a chronic back injury, two bypass surgeries on his heart, having his gall bladder removed, a stroke and, most recently, a shoulder […]

August 29, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Late entries allowed by Italians into Riccione worlds

Annette and Robert Koop share an interesting tidbit on their German masters blog. They report that six Italian athletes (Later correction: Comments point out the nationality wasn’t specified. My apologies –ken) were admitted to next month’s Riccione world meet after the entry deadline. The horror! Actually, the funny part is how this contrasted with Germany’s […]

August 28, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  6 Comments

Pond scum makes comeback via masters track stars

More than 10 years ago, I had a field day mocking a fad supplement called Super Blue Green Algae. The scientific name for this stuff is Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. Then a decade passed with no peep from the folks in Oregon hyping this “super food.” But at Orono nationals, W60 multi-eventer Kathy Jager of Arizona buttonholed […]

August 28, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  7 Comments

French launch Web site for 2008 WMA world indoors

The folks in Clermont-Ferrand, France, have begun building their Web site for the third WMA World Masters Indoor Championships in March 2008 (a week before USATF indoor nationals). Entry fees are listed in Euros, and other info is given. Lots of cupboards are still bare, though. But it’s nice that they’ve posted a calendar of […]

August 27, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Merlene Ottey’s last IAAF worlds? Don’t bet on it

Merlene Ottey is 47 — and the oldest sprinter at Osaka this week. Alas, she didn’t make it out of the heats at IAAF worlds. But she still made her presence known. USA Today included this note about her performance: “At 47, Merlene Ottey is still running — and nearly at the top level. The […]

August 27, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

Greek scholar: Masters track recaptures Oly spirit

One of the best things about nationals is meeting new people. At the Orono Athletes Banquet, I chatted with a lady named Margaret Kaufman of Madison, Wisconsin. She’s a national-class W60 sprinter. But even more interesting: She’s a world-class Greek scholar. Margaret wrote me: “I wanted to give you my website address: www.margaretgeorge.com. If you […]

August 26, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Dave Clingan: Chugging along to beer mile immortality — almost

Many of you know my Oregon friend Dave Clingan, a world-class M50 runner, co-webmaster of this site and USATF mover-and-shaker (first as an active athletes rep, and later as chair of the rankings and awards committees). He also coaches preps near his Portland home and guides kids on his youth team (two of whom won […]

August 26, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Photos posted of Athletes Banquet, awards ceremony

We ate lotsa lobstah at the Orono athletes banquet. The steak line was really short. But most of all we savored our greats at the first USATF masters awards ceremony ever held at outdoor nationals. Until now, the 30-year awards program has chosen and announced our top athletes at the December viagra online convention — […]

August 25, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  Comments Closed

A Stoned look at Orono: Our photo gallery is online

Check the faces. Jai Black’s focus at the start. Her joy on the winner’s podium. Rita Hanscom’s strain at the tape. Steven Robbins’ exhaustion. Earl Fee’s intensity. Becky Sisley’s drive. Sid Howard’s disappointment. Tony Echeandia’s tender family moment. My wife, Chris, and I shots close to 3,000 photos at USATF masters nationals early this month. […]

August 25, 2007   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment