M40 Sorensen humbly eyes sub-4 mile this summer
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Jim Sorensen is no sorcerer. He can’t predict the future, and won’t promise a record. But he’s not shy about admitting that the M40 mile marks are on his mind. In the second and final part of my interview with the new AR man in the 800, Jim hints he could use a fast open race — Maybe even the Pre Classic on June 10 — to help him achieve an M40 first — sub-4 for the outdoor mile. Jim writes: “Even if I fall short of a sub-4, perhaps I can better Moorcroft’s 4:02.53, or get the American record.”
Here’s the final part of my Q&A. My thanks to him for taking time out for this chore.
Masterstrack.com: It seems that Olympians and former WR holders (like Willie Banks) are getting excited about setting masters records. How prestigious are masters age-group records to you?
Sorensen: They are obviously second fiddle to the open records, and perhaps to the junior, collegiate, high school, etc., records as well, but they are records nonetheless. To me they are significant. They are one of the main reasons I have kept running these past few years. To say that no one in the world, or no U.S. runner, has ever run this fast is something else.
I am honored that my dedication to the pursuit, my enjoyment of training, and the circumstances of my life have allowed me to acheive an American record (in the M40 800). I am thankful to God for that gift. I do think that I am just getting started, but if things don’t work out in future 800, 1500, mile world and American Record attempts, at least I claimed one. And that one was Johnny Gray’s. I always rooted for him. He made four Olympic Finals (7th, 5th, 3rd, 7th) and was the “grandfather” of the 800. What better name could I have replaced? Definitely an honor.
If you go 3:45 in the 1500 or sub-4 in the mile, you qualify for USATF open nationals – which serve as trials for the IAAF World Championships in Osaka. Is this in the back of your mind?
Oh, yes, that would be something else. We shall see how my fitness progresses and what my legs can do. A time of 3:43 will not make it, a 3:42 might, a 3:41 would most likely. I just need to run smart, with confidence, and compete – and then let the chips fall where they may.
I plan on going to Indianapolis anyways since there will be a masters mile exhibition race. I understand that qualifying for the open race is a long shot, but you can say it is on my mind. If I fall short, I can still claim a world or American 1500 (age-group) record.
An outdoors sub-4 for masters has been the toughest nut to crack. Steve Scott and Tony Young fell short. What are your chances?
Just like qualifying for USATFs, It is a long shot. Tony Young ran a 4:05 indoors (oversized track) and a couple of 4:07s. Steve Scott’s best was a 4:10. The outdoor world record is 4:02.53 by David Moorcroft. I think that is the second fastest 40+ performer ever, behind Coghlan’s 3:58 indoors. Last season, I ran a 4:02.66 mile and a 3:44.17 1500 meters. Those performances are close. It’s hard to compare seasons, but I think my fitness is similar to last years, if not better. Even if I fall short of a sub-4, perhaps I can better Moorcroft’s 4:02.53, or get the American record.
There is one problem: I do not have a mile race that fits into my schedule. Would the Pre meet let me in at the last minute? Would that race even be a good fit for me? I could go out in 2:00-2:01 and be 20 meters in last.
I do not want to fly across the country for a mile race before the school year is over. So I will most definitely be searching for a sub-4 caliber mile that would be a good fit for me. I hate talking about all of this anyways. It’s just talk at this point. I need to run on June 3 to see what my body and mind can do. Running can be very humbling, so I speak of this record quest with extreme caution.
Me again:
Jim could use our help. Nobody can make him run faster with a 300 to go, but maybe if we encourage the meet director of the Pre Classic, Jim will get an invite. The meet director? That would be Tom Jordan, who until several years ago was the executive vice president of World Masters Athletics.
Tom knows a good story line when he hears one — as he did in 2001 when this Virginia kid was running crazy times. The rest is history. Now it’s our chance to pave the way for Jim Sorensen.
Post a comment on this blog. If enough people chime in, maybe TJ will see the wisdom in letting JS run for the record at Pre.
16 Responses
I cannot believe that Tom Jordan, steeped in Masters athletics as he is, would deny Jim the opportunity for a sub-4.
Remember, it was the USA athletic authorities who stopped Wes Santee from becoming the first sub-4 man, leaving Roger Bannister to step in.
Don’t let another historic opportunity be thrown away.
In the USA – Land of Opportunity – any boy, girl, woman, or man on a mission…should damn well have the opportunity to fulfill said mission.
Thoughts?
How great it would be for the Pre Meet and track and field if Jim Sorenson were allowed in for a shot at the 4:00 mark. The media loves inspiring stories like his!
Hopefully, Tom Jordan realizes that most of the fans of T&F (especially the ones who spend the money for tickets, etc) are over 40 themselves!
Masters are comin’ on.
Dear Tom…please give Jim a chance. He is a RUNNER who deserves this chance…to me its not really about “Masters” its about ATHLETICS. Jim “happens” to be over 40. He CAN run with those guys and he deserves a shot. The training and dedication required of him to run the times he presently runs shows he is clearly an EXCEPTIONAL athete….as athletes we must SUPPORT him. He is willing to do the brutally hard work required…how can we limit his opportunities? The only LIMITS set in Track and Field are dictated by the stop watch and tape measure. Please give Jim S. a chance at something he honestly deserves.
Tom Jordan wouldn’t let Tony Young run in the Pre Meet, even though Tony had just run 3:46.43, so I’m not sure how enthusiastic he is about using the meet as a venue for masters record attempts. Nevertheless, we can always hope – and Jim’s 1:51 might tip the scales in his favor.
Keep in mind that Tom Jordan must eliminate a younger runner (with a faster seed time) if he includes Jim in the meet. This has to be outweighed by the “human interest” value and liklihood of JS breaking a record. Last year at Prefontaine there were four athletes over 4:00 and two at 4:03, slower than JS’s best of the season, so it is clear that JS can run with these guys, given that he already has a faster 800 time under his belt compared to ’06. A world outdoor mile record (by an American Olympian) is nothing to sneeze at. Let’s all cross our fingers that Mr. Jordan tips the hat to Jim. With Alan Webb likely to be up in the front end of the race, the theme of American distance resurgence would take on a new depth.
It would be great to see Jim at the Prefontaine Classic. His 4:02 mile last year should give him some credibility but ultimately, it would be a truly appreciated gesture for masters track and field if Tom would include him.
I really hope Jim gets in. He would be sucked along to an incredible time!
As Pete said, I asked Mr Jordan what it would take to get in the Pre meet in 2003. He said a 3:46 1500. The next week, I ran 3:46 and he took two High School runner (Magness- 4:01, & ???- 4:10) instead. At the time, I thought that something under 4:02 would be possible. Opportunities like that come and go very quickly.
Let’s get Jim IN!
How do we support this movement to get Jim into the Pre? Jim is a great example of what is good with our sport. He came up short in 1996 and I would hate to see him miss this opportunity. I have been a fan of Jim since high school and I can tell you that he is a great guy deserving of this opportunity. Lets get him in.
What an exciting prospect, the possibility of a sub 4 outdoor mile for masters! Consider this: as tactical as the races in these big meets tend to be, a 2:00 to 2:01 first half might get Jim closer to the front than he thinks! I think it’d be a shame not to let it happen! Tom Jordan’s insticts, as director of the premier meet in the U.S., are too good to let an opportunity like this pass the the track world by.
Jim deserves a shot. Lets hope the meet management gives him a chance to go for it!
Wow! Thanks for the support everyone. I do want to make one thing clear. I have not asked to be in the meet at this point, so its not like Tom Jordan is denying me an opportunity. He has not even been made aware of the situation. I was waiting to see how the 1500 at Jim Bush goes. Perhaps I should have mentioned the possibilty to the meet director earlier, but I am just trying to get through each day of work and training. Plus, I need to speak with my coach Tom McGlynn about this to even see if its a good idea. But now that it is out there, maybe its an opportunity I should push for. Thank You.
The opportunity for Track and Field fans to see Jim have a go at the Masters record would be awesome…and at the Pre meet…it couldn’t get any better than that. Here’s hoping that a spot will be available and will be given to Jim in plenty of time to prepare. One way or another, it’s going to be a fun summer watching and waiting for his breakthrough race. Let him in!
Tom, give Jim a chance to go for the record with a field that is up to the challenge.
We would like to run the photo of Jim Sorenson in ANG Newspapers (Sports)
can we get permission??
(need to know Asap)
Who do you need permission from? .. to use photo?
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