Linz 3000 records tossed out for W65 and older
Ivar Söderlind of Sweden, records guru for the Eurovets, is the decider when it comes to European masters age-group records. And he’s decided not to ratify any of the European records that came out of the Linz world indoor championships in the 3,000-meter run for women 65 and older. Why? Uh, nobody knows for sure how many laps they all ran. Of course, this isn’t news to readers of this blog, who saw Mary Harada’s account of the lap-count disaster in her W70 race in Austria. Ivar also sent me his opinion on whether the mile should be zapped from the WMA record books. His verdict: Keep it!
Here’s what Ivar said about Euro records:
“So far in 2006 I have noted totally 61 new European Veteran Indoor Records and 52 of these records are noted in WMA Indoor Championship in Linz March 15-20. 34 of the new European Records are also World Records. The results from W65+ 3000m in Linz can not be considered for records. The number of laps that the athletes ran can not be verified and therefore a record can not be accepted. I have not noted any records for multievents. In the final record list for 2006 my ambition is to present records for Indoor Pentathlon when I hope the final WMA Scoring Tables are determined.
“When two or more results are noted in one age group and event the first noted result is the official record. Only results with all tasks reported (Birth Date, Date and Place for the Competition) are approved as official records. Only electronical timing is accepted for distances up to and including 400m. For distances from 200m and more the track round must be 220yards (201.168m) or shorter. I have noted if the European Records in this list are World Records or better than the Official World Records.”
Here’s what Ivar told me about efforts to delete the mile from WMA records:
“Yes, now I have read your blog post about WMA records, thanks.
“About records we once have decided in EVAA to note European Records for Championships Events + 3000m. Every year we discuss this matter and I really also want to have European Records for one mile.
“I do not note official records for Nonstadia Events because it is often uncertain when and in which way official measurement of road distances is realized in former Road Competitions (even Championships). We continue with Best Performances.
“For Multievents I have not up to now seen any final WMA Scoring Tables. I know it is discussions about this in USA, Germany, Sweden and other countries. We will now check Prof Howard Grubb´s online look up form for Age-Graded Tables.
“In Linz they used wrong Tables! We really want to update all old multievent records Europes!!!!! In Sweden it´s Ove Edlund who work with this matter and he also help me with the European Records for Multievents.”
Me again:
Since I’m kind of a dunce and can’t read between the lines, I wrote Ivar again and asked, specifically, if the mile should stay on the WMA records.
He replied:
“In WMA Record Meeting next year as in EVAA Council this year I will say my meaning about the Records. Then we will see if the decisions follow my meaning. I have looked at your blog!”
One Response
I am pleased to see that a decision has been made re the 65+ 3k run at Linz not to award world records that cannot be positively confirmed. What a shame, however, for those who may have run world record times and now have them tossed aside. The race was a farce from start to finish. A 80+ competitor told me she was forced to run an extra lap, so of course she had no chance at a record. It is difficult enough to run 3k indoors on the gerbil track without having to keep track of the number of times one has to go around the track. And imagine then trying to set a record after the finish line clock is stopped and it is not possible to know one’s splits.
Some National Masters Indoor and Outdoor meet directors have also been negligent in providing lap counting. Aside from the Indoors at Boston, it is like a trip to never never land when competing in anything longer than a 1500 or mile race. Will they or will they not have lap counters who pay attention, write down splits, make eye contact with the runner they are counting, or will they be discussing the lunch menue? Will they or will they not turn off the clock after the first (and much younger competitor) finishes? Will they try out their “system” on the first group of 5k (3k) runners – usually the older women, to see if it works? Outdoors, will they bother to have water available for the runners for the first group, or will it just occur to them later that they should have had water for the old ladies (old men).
I have done this for enough years and in enough venues to know that doing it correctly is the exception, not the rule. And I know which venues WILL do it correctly, and can guess with considerably accuracy, which ones will not. Any time a meet director tells me that s(he) knows how to do it because s(he) runs NCAA or Senior Games meets, I feel confident that it will be a mess. Neither the NCAA nor the Senior Games have to deal with multiple age groups on the track running a wide variety of paces. The Senior Games does not have a race longer than 1500 meters. The NCAA does not have runners on the track for the 5k or 10k with a 10-30 year age differential. Boise, Decatur, Honolulu, are examples of how to make a mess of it. This year at Charlotte I will be interested to watch what happens. I am not running the 5k there. It is far too hot for me, and I am focusing on the shorter events. I will be watching and I hope to see no more than 4 runner/walkers/lap counter, split times written down, each competitor clearly notified of how many laps to go, the finish line clock turned back on for the remainder of the field, water available for the first heat to run, and in other words, the older runners and walkers treated with the same respect as the younger ones.
I am also delighted to know that there is support for retaining world records for the mile. Now will National Masters News print an apology for dethrowning the two of us who set world mile records in Boston at the Indoor Nationals?
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