Cleary claims all-star masters hurdle race in works
Mark Cleary, coordinator of masters invitational programs for USATF, sez he’s trying to line up a 110 hurdle race involving former giants Roger Kingdom, Renaldo Nehemiah and Greg Foster, along with Willie Gault, Jack Pierce, Henry Andrade and current masters recordholder David Ashford for a little M40 exhibition showdown at USATF Open Nationals in three weeks. Good luck.
This news is appended to a longer column on the 110 hurdles race in New York City pitting Allen Johnson vs. recent record-tier (and fellow Olympic champion) Liu Xiang of China, the find of the Athens Games.
Our masters runner friend Steve Nearman writes in The Washington Times:
Meanwhile, some of America’s greatest hurdles legends will compete on the same track at the USA Championships in a masters invitational race.
“I am putting together a dandy race,” said Mark Cleary, the organizer of the race. “If I can get Roger Kingdom, it will be a killer, a stellar race.”
Cleary said he already has commitments from Willie Gault, David Ashford and Henry Andrade. Gault, the former Chicago Bears wide receiver, last month crushed the U.S. record in the 40-and-over 100-meter dash in 10.73, at age 44.
Ashford owns the 110-meter hurdles world record in 13.73 for an athlete 40 and over. Andrade was ranked No. 3 in the world last year.
Cleary said he is trying to get Kingdom, who shares the American record with Johnson and is ranked No. 3 all-time behind Jackson and Liu, to commit, and the 42-year-old Kingdom has expressed great interest. However, he has been kept busy with his new position as coach of California U. of Pennsylvania.
“I’m also trying to get a line on [No. 5 all-time] Renaldo Nehemiah, [No. 11] Greg Foster and [No. 6] Jack Pierce,” Cleary said. “I believe all three are training for an exhibition event in Europe in July so our race would be perfect for them.”
Cleary said he would offer prize money if he can land a sponsor.
Me again:
Of course, this would be a wonderful matchup, with any permutation of three or four of the former hurdle greats worth the price of admission.
But my earlier comments on the way Mark sets up the exhibition races still apply: The ends do not justify the means.
My fundamental objection to Mark’s method of organizing masters races has to do with fairness and openness. If you advertise for such a race openly — with plenty of lead time — you go with the best you can get. And everyone leaves happy. But all we get from Mark is “trust me. It’ll be a killer race.”
However, what if Skeets and Greg fall on their face in this high-visibility race? What would that do for masters imagery?
As it turns out, the June issue of National Masters News contains this dollar-late and day-short notice on page 14:
Open Meet to Include Masters Invitational Events
Masters Invitational events will be held at the USA Outdoor Championships at the Home Depot Center, Los Angeles (actually Carson), June 25-26. A women’s 1500 with a field of 12 is planned with a qualifying standard of 5:06 or mile in 5:26 from the 2005 season.
The men’s event has not been confirmed yet. A men’s 110H with a field of eight, qualifying standard of 15.75, has been requested.
Athletes interested in competing in these two events must apply online at the usatf.org Web site in the Masters Invitational Program section. Athletes must be at least 40. For more information, contact Mark Cleary at runnermark@cox.net.
Me again:
OK, so this raises even more questions.
Why does the USATF application page specify a 14.80 qualifying standard, with the mark recorded at a fully-automatic race in 2005?
Again — is this for the M40 hurdles (39 inches high) or the Open hurdles (42 inches high)?
And if this policy is applied, doesn’t that mean Kingdom et al have to record a FAT time over the 110s in the next few weeks to be eligible? I’ve seen no evidence of their jumping into a race.
Maybe they’ll all surprise us and run the weekend before nationals.
14.8? Piece of cake to the likes of these folks. Or maybe not.
Talk to Edwin Moses about masters comebacks.
Roger Kingdom, of course, ran a still-unrecognized 13.79 over the 42-inch highs in 2004. He’s probably good to go. I’d love to see him paste Ashford, a cocky guy whose hot-dogging at the Eugene and Decatur masters nationals turned quite a few stomachs. (When Ashford wins a race, he takes a victory sprint past the stands looking for applause and love. Grandstanding is gauche in masters track.)
But now that Mark Cleary has let slip the N-word (Nehemiah) and the F-word (Foster), he’s really got his tit in a crack. He has to deliver.
Otherwise, he’ll be subject to even more criticism — for publicly announcing grandiose goals.
Wouldn’t it be better if he just played it straight? Announce a race publicly and widely, and then do your damnedest to fill the lanes with former world-class studs?
9 Responses
I am one of the hurdlers that was invited to compete in this race. My only dissappointment in this entire process is that I was informed so late; I got a couple of short email messages from Mark Cleary only two weeks ago.
I’m surprised to see the comment that there would be prize money if Mark could find a sponsor. When he left me the message informing me of the event, I called him back to find out if USATF (or anyone) would pay our way to the meet…I don’t want to sound elitist or anything but, I was hoping that if my times and/or ranking is good enough to get an invite, then USATF would help me with transportation to the meet. In my mind, an “invitation” does not mean I have to pay…
Two weeks is a little short notice for me to buy an airline ticket cross country (especially after I have to secure transportation to Hawaii and Spain for the Nationals and World Championships).
In the future, I hope that USATF would voice the possibility that masters athletes would be able to compete in an exhibition event with enough time for us to prepare for it financially and in our training regimen.
Thank you Dave for a bit of sanity….Cleary to me seems to be a track “groupie” who just loves to be around the “stars”the “names”…his program not only does NOTHING for Masters Track and Field is has a negative effect….why not a TRUE Masters race with athletes who have PARTICIPATED in Masters Track and Field for OVER 20 years???? It will never happen because those men dont carry enough “weight” with Mr Cleary…too bad Roger Pierce/Don Neddig/Coutland Grey/Paul Edans/Steve Robbins/Charly Brocato/Larry Gunn (and im sure im missing a few names) but that”dream” 200 meter race will NEVER happen at “Clearys Circus” i mean the National Masters Exhibition Races
I would like to chime in on Sir Kenneth’s Blog concerning Mr. Cleary and MT&F Invitational Program. Start with the basic history of the program. How ironic that many participants in past invitationals have become SoCal members( Cleary’s Club). Coincidence or a recruiting tool.
Dexter McCloud mentions a stipend for transportation. What happened to the Ben-Gay sponsorship. Is the tube empty ??????
Cleary’s excuse for his last minute invites are that USATF must approve the race and the competitors. When the event is approved lets drop everything and fly across the country– entry money in hand —– so that we can put on a show. Very athlete friendly. Last years Outdoor Nationals offered funding, this years Indoor Nationals none HHHHHMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!
Mr Stone has questioned the secrecy of this program. There is no secret — IT IS A JOKE —–
While I am delighted with any masters promotion or races at open/elete meets, I do wonder what spectators take away about a M40 masters race. They will see hurdlers who are not so far away from their prime run some pretty good times. They will not come away with the idea that there are masters 70 and older still running hurdles. They will not come away with any understanding of masters age groups or the age graded factors, which is what keeps some of us from hanging our heads when our actual times are not the same as our college times. They will not come away with the idea that track and field can be a sport for life with a wide variety of events (from the 100m-10K, to the Triple Jump to the Hammer throw).
Again, I think we should be thankful for whatever we can get, but I don’t think it is the way to promote the sport of Masters Track and Field.
David E. Ortman (M52) Seattle, WA
Ed, only one person has joined our club after running in an Invitaional event. We have had athletes in the Invitational events in the past but with the exception of one they were all members before they participated in the program.There have also been Invitational events that we did not have entrants.You need to get your facts right. The only time there has been money for travel for the athletes was last year because USATF negociated that travel sponsorship with Ben Gay. This year I found a guy who was willing to pay part of Dexter McCloud’s plane ticket to make it possible for him to be there to compete.As a general rule there has not been any money available to anyone for these Invitational events. You and your buddie Francis still continue to mock the program –which takes a lot of gall on your part–I offered you what you asked for– a Men’s 50+ 400m I know you had good reason yourself for taking a pass on it–but Francis choose not to race because he has a personality conflict with me–You guys made your point and your request. I honored that request held the event and than Francis choose not to run in his own back yard there are no excuses for that–he sites late notice–we all know that everyone got the same notice and that’s pure B.S.the real story is–is that Francis cares less for Masters Track & Field then he does about his resentment against me which he placed above all else–that was reflected by him not showing up. I say we just call a truce all this bickering is extremely negative for the sport and everyone in it–I hope this is the last time we will have to engage in this.I am trying to do the best job that I can do as an athlete, coach and administrator. You don’t like me that’s fine I can live with that–when you challenge my integrity and character I won’t let that slide.Sincerely Mark Cleary
Mr.Stone #1 thank you for your recent query —- to Mr.Cleary #2 since when did I request a M50 400m . Since you are the fountain of factual information—- are we correct to make that assumption ????? No one else has the facts except for you — so you can tell me the time and date that I requested THE M50 4OO
I pushed for a M60+ 200 to refresh your memory —- you on the other hand tried to placate Frank with the M50 400 not moi— shall I refresh your memory that you had no intentions to invite me to Boston —does the name Larry Barnum ring a bell???? Mr Barnum told you that I was one of only three who met your qualification for the M50—- practice what you preach — you also did not check the rankings from the previous year–that is why you contacted me at the 11th hr. OPPS
Oh by the way —– since when is Frank Schiro my buddy— you know everything about ME —– are all the members of YOUR SoCal team BUDDIES?????? Gee your pretty good at personally attacking ME in the Masters National News — Write the retraction concerning the statement you made about my TEAM—– be honest about the BS you told me concerning my athletes S.Allah affiliation ( you told different stories to different people)—- I do my home work
I told you before if you have a beef with Frank you deal with him ——- if you have a BEEF with ME — which you do and have had since you said I took Kevin Morning away from your squad—— what is negative for the sport—-bickering or not giving ALL age groups in all events the opportunity to showcase their abilities— If USATF throws so many monkey wrenches into the program —as you keep stating —- then the MF&F I P is flawed —- and if as you said USATF only wants to see the fastest race , not the most competitive. WELL ??????????????
It was at the Nationals in Decatur last August. You may not have asked for a M 50 400m specifically, but the dialogue was full of references to not holding any races for athletes over 50. The fact that middle distances races had been the recent focus–shorter races were also talked about.When I mentioned a prior event where we had a 400m at Stanford–I was informed that was a West coast location and made it difficult to get to. My thought at that point was ok let’s have a shorter race on the East Coast for 50+ athletes. We did that. I was responsive to the dialogue. I did invite you to Boston and you were notified with a personal phone call from me–I don’t understand why you still feel I have something against you–I don’t–I respect you as an athlete. It is true we disagree on several issues that doesn’t make either one of us bad people–can’t we just agree to disagree ? I know you have issue with my choice of words. Using Buddies to me is the same as friends– the semantics here seem to have hurt our communication. My apologies if you found that word offensive– I do not. I never personally attacked you in National Masters News. Again semantics–I simply reffered to your club as an elite club–elite to me means high quality not exclusionary. It was my opinion and I don’t find the word elite to be offensive–some people do–I do not–again I think we just need to agree to diagee on this one. The most significant issue with USATF and these events is that we have to wait for them to approve having the Masters races in the Championships each Indoor and Outdoor season.If we knew for sure that we were in and just needed to choose the event that would really make it easier to give the kind of notice that would be much better for the athletes involved. It’s a process–one that is gradually improving. In closing I think you have made your point. I don’t have a beef with you and I think we need to leave what is in the past –in the past and move on. Good luck to you this season in Hawaii and in San Sebastian. Mark Cleary
Dearest Mark….yes Ed is a friend of mine..and that was a wise move you just made in your “nice letter” to Eddie….i mean you would not want to have to deal with him face to face again im sure of that…lets all pretend and make things “nice”. I have written a few letters in regard to the program you run….how incredibly dishonest of me to actually say and publish my feelings…a guy like you is way more comfortable pretending.(like you just did in that atttempt to “make things right” with Ed ). I have NEVER advocated for a 50 year old race..let alone a race i would take part in. Why do you continue to pretend to not get the consistant point i have been making??? GIVE THE OLDER ATHLETES A CHANCE…thats it…that IS my point. You to this date are unwilling to consider that..how long have you had this program??how many years?? Well its a disgrace to Masters athletics that only one 60 year old athlete to date has had a chance to run. I beleive your priorities are wrong ive stated that openly several times. In regard to me running in the Boston event..im curious.. was i obligated to do so?? you mean i have no say in what races i choose to participate in? You do whatever you please with the Exhibition event but i dont have a choice??? Im a bit confused here.. I do not want ANYTHING to “pacify” ME….i want equal opportunity for MASTERS athletes.. You called us an elite team and it was not a compliment but now you pretend it was….your not honest and you pretend too much for me.. Golly from what i understand one of your team members may win the exhibition race coming up….isnt that interesting.!!!… Mark TRY and get real…its NOT as painfull as you might think.. YOU have not been fair to the older athletes …this is PROVEN by facts NOT opinions….now lets all pretend and “be nice”
It took me a while to stop from laughing—— ” a process—-one that is gradually improving” you say. I ask you how has it improved ?????? Does USATF dictate the event ?????? or Mark Cleary????? I believe this will be your 10th National Exibition —what races that you had scheduled to run were eliminated??????
You told me I made my point —–” you mock the program– which takes alot of gall on your part — I offered you what you asked for”. Now we are into semantics, tea readings , taro cards, dialogue………. Fact —— One athlete over 60+ has run an invitational. Fact—– ” it is a new awakening for many observers to realize that a 60 yr old sprinter or 45 yr old miler can maintain superior fitness and perform at astonishing levels.”
” Masters invitational events provide important opportunities to recognize and reward top masters athletes for their accomplishments.” Fact—— then practice what you preach—- what input from your committee has had you shy away from the foundation of Masters athletics. What committee members have told you to be exclusive instead of inclusive when it comes to the 60+ athlete.
If a select number of athletes have participated in this program—- explain the benifits ALL Masters have received since its inception.
Fact—– you do have something against me because you only respect my as an ATHLETE—— or is is that semantics
I think I can survive
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