Major marks missing in list of masters records submitted for OK
Sandy Pashkin, as USATF masters records chair, has submitted a list of 127 American age-group records for approval by the overall Records Committee at the annual meeting next month in Indy. (See list here.) Included were high jump marks from the 2012 Olympic Trials — Amy Acuff’s W35 1.95 (6-4 3/4) and Jamie Nieto’s M35 2.31 (7-7). Better late than never. But Willie Banks, Pat Manson, Kevin Castille and Christian Cushing-Murray may be disappointed to learn that their record efforts aren’t on the list. Perhaps they didn’t submit applications, or did so with gaps. Willie did M55 triple jump, Pat did M45 vault, Kevin did M40 10K and Christian did M45 1500. Of course, Laurie Rugenstein’s W65 mile was ineligible for lack of a rival racer. And the Olathe throws were tossed because of a sloping field. Women beat the men 66-61 in number of indoor, outdoor and relay records submitted. That’s just for track. Road and race walk records are separate. Let me know if any other records were left out.
Orville Rogers set six American indoor records at Landover nationals in March. He had seven overall in 2013, the most by any masters track athlete.
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Well, Ken, here is a subject I know a little about. Before going to record times or heights that did not make it for some reason, let me again take up the cause of Laurie Rugenstein.
Laurie, a superb W65 athlete, went in good faith to the Mid-American Region masters champs in Colorado this summer. She broke the world and national records for 1 mile by running 6:13.00 FAT. Unfortunately, through no fault of her own, the field had only one other runner (the rules require three or more in the competition).
Standards for records should be in place to promote fair competition, treat existing record holders fairly, encourage respect for a potential new record, etc., etc. In masters, however, we often have very few competitors in certain age groups.
Having only one other competitor is not even remotely comparable to enjoying an excessive trailing wind in the sprints, hurdles, or long jump/triple jump, going around a hurdle rather than over it, falling out of the circle during the shot put, or something else that would unfairly help a person to achieve a record. Instead, being in a two-person race is simply happenstance.
Laurie “did the right thing” by going to a regional USATF meet to try to break the record (the mile is not available at national outdoors). She could have gone to some dubious competition in which the meet organizers were unfamiliar with the rules, but she did not. Can we not give her her due?
As far as records that did not make the grade, I took a cursory look and found several.
Back in September, I believe, an M40 runner named Greg Mitchell destroyed the 20K track record by running 1:04:47.16 in Oregon. You gave it heavy coverage, Ken, but the story seems to have disappeared from your site. Wonder what happened (the record is not on the list mentioned above).
Back in March, of course, you gave very nice coverage to M45 ace Christian Cushing-Murray. “Cush” went to a major meet, the Occidental Distance Classic in California, and ran a scintillating 3:55.09 for an apparent M45 American record in the 1500.
Christian was clearly hoping for ratification, at least as judged by your story. For example, you quote the redoubtable Pete Magill as saying the following:
“He (Christian) came back at one point to ask how on earth he was supposed to get the signature of the track’s original surveyor. LOL! Welcome to the nightmare that is masters record setting, Christian.”
Given how long ago that race took place, it looks like the wonderful 3:55.09 that Christian ran will be consigned to the dustbin.
Another well-known mark set in 2013 was the 1.77 meters for the W40 high jump set by all-time Kansas State great Gwen Wentland. As you know, Ken, Gwen has been in more than one Olympic Trials, has won open national championships, etc.
Where did Gwen set her apparent W40 record? The answer would be Olathe, Kansas, during the national masters championships. Apparently, setting it at Olathe was not good enough, and thus it looks like that record is gone.
I may get back to you later, Ken, as I just took a cursory look at things.
What happened to the W40 indoor 4×200 American record set at the USATF East Regional Championships by Sarah Lawson, LaTrica Dendy, Diane Pomeroy, and Beth Clark? Ken gave it a great write up.
http://masterstrack.com/2013/01/24304/
More transparency would be nice. I submitted a throws record in January with all necessary paperwork and documentation , and never heard a thing. It was surpassed later in the year so I guess no big deal.
Definitely will make me think twice about applying again.
Dear Ken, I did not notice the M70-79 4 x 80 meters shuttle hurdle relay record of 1:07.07 by Fred Niedermeyer, Bob Osterhoudt, Terry Pliner, and Terry Rowan at 2012 Nationals (Lisle, Illinois, August 3, 2012). This record has been listed as pending on the established national record register for the past approximate year. None of us on the team know why the record has not been fully ratified or why it does not appear on this year’s list for full ratification. Thank you for your consideration! Bob Osterhoudt
no surprise here – the great mystery of the unratified or pending records -pops up annually or more often. Until there is a major overhaul of the records system this will continue to confound the novices who think that once a record is set – it is ratified, and annoy the rest of us who know it is just a crap shoot. Some records are accepted, some are left hanging, and some are just dumped into the waste basket. Get out your ouija board.
How many records from the 70’s,80’s,90’s are ratified under the current specifications for consideration?
Except for Olympics, WC, US Nationals, NCAA ‘s, not much was happening with FAT timing, facilities, and steel tapes.
Unless realistic standards are set for all competitions and track venues, this will cause our sport and records to disappear.
For records, we need to set a time limit at the end of the current season: running, indoor, and outdoor to make it work.
Ask any coach at all levels what happens when results/records are delayed for athletes and the public.
Enjoy the competition, performance, and friendships while you can, those are what make Masters Track priceless.
Liz,
We are still waiting for USATF NE to sign the form. It has been a frustrating year-long process. It has been sitting on someone’s desk for the past 9 months who responded that he didn’t feel like signing it. When I further inquired about it, I was sent a nasty sarcastic email back. I even had a club representative write a letter back in June and was assured that it would be taken cared of. I sent another letter to at least 4 USATF reps two weeks ago but never heard back. I then contacted Gary Snyder the next day for help. I was then assured that it would be sent in within a few days. I am glad that the process is being revised. You should highlight the part of your new process that states that IT IS UP TO THE MEET DIRECTOR, NOT ATHLETE, TO GATHER THE INFORMATION AND SUBMIT IT.
Now that I see who is on the records committee, it is ironic that two of the people that I have dealt with are on the records committee. They kept telling me that they had plenty of time. Well time is up now boys.
Diane, to my knowledge the only person on the records committee is Sandy Pashkin.
I believe a stock e-mail should be sent to the athlete submitting the application. “The application for record XYZ has been received.” Then the person would not have to wait a year or more to find out if it had been sent by the meet director and received by the records committee.
If approved, fine. If not, I also believe there should be an explanation.
Just got word that the form was finally sent in last week. Hooray. But it shouldn’t have been that difficult.
Hi Bob. There are several pending shuttle hurdle relay American Records that were set prior to this year. Maybe the prior ones were nor listed for a reason … Sandy would be the proper person to email or call to ask … Prior to her flying out to the Convention.
The shuttle hurdle relay pending marks from 2013 are on the list that Ken linked to.
Jeff Davison,
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