Screen shot of Ron note to Nolan on Jan. 27, 2016, via Facebook.
Within hours of my
posting the list of over-60 men invited to the IAAF Portland 800-meter race, I was getting private messages. They basically said: “What? At 66,
Nolan Shaheed has a recent 2:17.5?” Some cited mastersrankings.com, where Nolan’s best listed 800 of
recent vintage is 2:31.88. I didn’t put much stock in that, since many marks don’t make it to
John Seto’s site. Besides,
he ran 2:13.69 in 2014. But then I saw this Facebook note from
Ron Pate to Nolan: “Hi Nolan, You said you are not in race shape, but are you all healed up? Hope so.” Uh oh. I wrote Nolan and got no reply. I wrote some WMA folks. Crickets. So now I’m worried that Nolan will either embarrass himself in Portland or, worse, be accused of fibbing his time. I’m hoping to be proved wrong. Nolan is one of our greats. But a 2:17.5 at age 66 is one of the
best M65 marks of all time. Is he really up to that?
24 Responses
I don’t believe Nolan cheats on his Time is a great runner ans quite able to do a such chrono
Our sport has no greater runner than Nolan. I have a huge amount of respect for this man. No way the time was “faked”. Hopefully Nolan is healthy and will run in Portland.
I have no ax to grind, but if the two previous posters are so sure, then I assume someone can corroborate Nolan’s time from his results? Popularity alone is not enough in situations like this.
It seems masters runners over 55 slow up around a second a year in the 800. Nolan ran a 2:12 800 at age 62 in 2012. He should have masters runner of the CENTURY with his 800-10000 performances that year. What a range! I have no doubt Nolan has the ability to run a 2:17 if he is healthy.
Brian, I agree there is no doubt if Nolan is healthy he can run 2:17. The question is did he run this in a valid race? FAT – not with a 2:17.5 time. Valid competition in a race that can be verified – that the organizing committee or Nolan can certainly verify. If these criteria are not met, I think this would be a dis-service to the first alternate in the race that certainly has a valid time from the World Championships in Lyon.
1). The selection process should be under review, not the athletes. In my opinion,times submitted by all the applicants should have been verified before any selection was made.
2). I am confident that Nolan Shaheeds seed time is as valid as the other applicants seed times.
3) Part of what makes Noland Shaheed great is that he doesn’t limit his performances to Masters Track.
He is routinely invited to Big” meets, from youth to New York City Marathon.
4). For such World Class events, consideration is always given to criteria that will promote the event and give it notoriety. I can’t imagine selection was based solely on one(1) mark.
We all respect and love Nolan. This controversy would be simply solved by providing the meet that this time was run in.
Cheryl is correct. We all love and respect Nolan and this whole thing could be put to rest if someone would simply reply to Ken Stone’s inquiry. The fact that no one has makes it even more suspicious. With all of his past accomplishments, does Nolan deserve to run? Sure! But not more than those who have met the specific time standard within the specific required time frame that Ken Stone has posted from the IAAF. I’m sorry, but Nolan did not run a 2:17.5 within the time frame the IAAF required. It didn’t happen. i don’t suspect Nolan Shaheed of any wrong doing. He is to ethical and a gracious champion. Unfortunately that cannot be said about his club president and perhaps even, some members of USATF. This is truly sad and if I were Nolan, I would bow out of this graciously and say “Thanks for the offer, but no thanks. Let the next person on the list go.”
O boy ! here we go !
I could be one the next on the list I ran 2’18″60 in June 2016 and confirm 2’18″80 in Lyon but i would be pleased to be replaced by Nolan.
Yes, Hear we go again. Never a dull moment with men 60 Plus.
Yves you give dignity to the forum.
With the reputation and the portfolio that Nolan has built over the past 30 years I am astonished that this is even brought into question. Nolan is one of the greatest Masters athletes of all time and from that alone deserves to be in this field. I, for one, will be rooting for him.
Here is a link to the application form
http://www.world-masters-athletics.org/files/newsstories_files/20160319IAAFindoorapplication.pdf
I too don’t know what is going on, but…I am rooting for one of the best Masters Middle Distance Runners EVER.
Nolan Shaheed
Thanks to Julie Hayden for sending the link to the meet application. It required that you to list the meet and date where your qualifying time was run. I assume that his time was verified by the meet organizers. I have never met Nolan but someone of his ability probably does not need to fudge his times.
Nolan’s seed time for Albuquerque indoor nationals is 2:17.00. So at least he’s consistent:
http://www.usatf.org/Events—Calendar/2016/USATF-Masters-Indoors-Track—Field-Championships/Status-of-Entries.aspx
Hasn’t anyone noticed? Often Masters seed times submitted are age group PRs (and then some). I see seed times for indoor nationals that are 5 yr PRs even extending back to previous age group. Some are completely fictitious, perhaps ‘estimates’.
EM, here’s what ap said:
The qualifying performance must have occurred between 01/01/2015 and 15/01/2016 and can be either indoors or outdoors.
Ken Stone this seems personal to you. I’ll see if one of your moles can find out why.
I don’t enjoy every story I write. But this blog owes y’all grown-up subject matter.
Noland is a legend….and will rise to the occasion. I ran against him in 2015 Nationals on fresh legs in the 800m and fortunately for me he had competed in the 3000m the day before. He had previously run a 2:13 that year and I had run a 2:14. I ran a 2:19 against him for the win….so times can swing greatly…& every race is unique. If he is healthy and fresh…. no telling what the World Champion can do. Go NOLAND.
Nolan ran 5:34 mile over the weekend at JDL in Winston-Salem:
http://www.jdlfasttrack.com/gprofile.php?do=view_event&event_id=9842&mgroup_id=46093&year=2016
Nolan’s recent health issues and recovery well-told here:
http://www.abqjournal.com/735440/sports/jazz-trumpeter-shaheed-runs-double-time-at-u-s-masters-meet.html
The great Earl Fee…………2:12 @ age 65
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