Masters heroes in the hinterlands
A couple years back, masters in Britain were outraged by the published comments of Malcolm Arnold, a famed coach. Arnold told the magazine Athletics Weekly: “I don’t like the idea of coaches of athletes going into veteran athletics. I have a personal hatred of vets athletics. I feel someone of my age should be doing something better with their lives. We are losing a lot of people that way.” Malcolm should meet Gary Bloome, a masters miler going the extra one for track in South Florida.
According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Bloome and friends organized an all-comers meet for all ages this weekend at a high school in Boca Raton – “featuring the most popular running events to encourage everyone from children to seniors to compete.”
“We wanted to jump-start the track program at Olympic Heights but also provide a good meet for everyone,” Bloome said. “There are a few track meets in South Florida, but not enough. The track is asphalt, but it’s in excellent shape.”
Bloome told writer Sharon Robb how frustrated he once was when he was training for the national masters track championships. (He was a finalist in the 1500 at Orono in 1998 and an M45 silver medalist at Orlando in 1998.)
“Outside of high school and college, track and field is a forgotten sport,” he said. “When I was training, I had to travel all over the state to find competitions. When I did, the number of competitors was disappointing. I would love to see our event have some impact on South Florida track. If it is successful, we may expand it later in the spring. We hope to get a wide variety of participants, from elementary school kids from some of our programs, middle school and high school track runners and the more mature athletes and geezers as old and older than me.”
Bloome is far more common than folks like Arnold realize.
My friends Andy Hecker, a masters hurdler, and Phil Fehlen, a world age-group record holding high jumper, often help officiate elite/open meets. World record heptathlete Christel Donley is a regular official at the Mt. SAC Relays. In USATF circles, many starters and judges do double duty – competing one day and officiating the next.
So Malcolm Arnold is full of it. Folks like Bloome are growing track — and masters along with it.
