Justice for John Keston and his M80 mile world record!
Yes, USATF can do the right thing! With a push from Dave Clingan and allies on the USATF Masters T&F Committee at the Indy convention, some rule changes have been been approved that right a terrible wrong. Remember the uproar over the rejection of a legitimate outdoor world mile record by M80 John Keston in May 2005? Now some calcified technicalities have been removed from the USATF Rule Book, allowing John’s record to be given due consideration, if retroactively.
Dave reports on the Indy decision:
“On May 14, 2005, John Keston, an 80-year-old distance runner from Oregon, ran a mile in a historic time of 6:48.3. That’s about one minute faster than the existing American and world records. But John’s record was not accepted by USATF, for two reasons: 1) the race was age-group handicapped insofar as younger runners started in waves after John took off, and 2) the track had cones on the inside of lane one instead of rails. Both of these factors conflicted with USATF rules of competition.
“When I became aware of this, I promised to submit rules changes to USATF in hopes of removing the obstacles which disqualified John’s record setting performance.
“More info about this situation is posted at:www.xro.com/keston/
“I’m happy to report that the rules changes I submitted to the USATF Rules Committee at the annual convention in Indianapolis a week ago have been accepted, with some necessary modifications (see below).
“In essence, the race that John ran is now legal and he will be listed as the pending American record holder until one final step is completed. There is still some question as to whether a record performance can be accepted retroactively after a rules change has been adopted. That is under consideration and I hope the outcome will be favorable.
“Meanwhile, I would like to express my gratitude to the members of the USATF Rules Committee for their cooperation and assistance in this matter. That includes Sandy Pashkin and Graeme Shirley, members of the masters track and field committee, for their guidance and support.â€
Here are the new rules:
Item 53 – A record may be accepted in a handicap race, provided the mark is set in a race in which:
1) All competitors start from the same line,
2) No one has started before the competitor claiming the record, and
3) Is timed in accordance with Rule 165.4.
Item 55 – Records for 10,000 meters or a shorter distance contested on a track can be set only on a track which either:
1) complies with Rule 160.3(a), or
2) has been measured 20cm from the white line in accordance with Rule 160.2,
provided that the curves have been marked with cones or flags complying in size and placement with Rule 160.3.
3 Responses
Kudos to Dave Clingan for following up on his commitment to instigate rule changes to ensure that John K can reclaim what he rightfully deserves.
I’m surprised that the committee went for the no curb rule. It would be helpful in an under-developed country where the cost of installing a curb is significant, but it is in such under-developed countries that I have watched athletes run 5000s and 10,000s on or inside the line around each curve.
Quick Silver
Hong Kong
Great job Dave…congratulations!! If i had the resources i would hire you to help my team Sprint Force America out in regard to all the records we have been cheated out of. Its an incredible experience to break a record legally..have all the needed paperwork and never get credit for it.Apparently its not a “big deal ” to Masters as Ken Stone did a piece on this issue with little or no response from the “memebership”. I think that saddens me way more than being cheated. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK DAVE..we NEED YOU…respectfully Francis A Schiro
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