Masters rankings get even better! All U.S. marks online
On this Labor Day holiday (in the USA), I’d like to salute a labor of love. USATF Masters Rankings Chairman John Seto shares details on the improvements he’s made in mastersrankings.com — the database-driven Web site that he created for USATF Masters. Up until two or three weeks ago, only the top 25 performers were ranked. Now the site lists EVERYONE! How many? “There are 5,490 athletes who have results for 2007, including indoor and outdoor,” John says. “Overall, 10,900 athletes’ information (is) in the database.” Yowza!
John writes about the improved lists:
You might recall that this (a full list of all performances) was one of the requests from people from my survey from early this year. I am trying to implement those items and am doing so as I need to for our purposes (data checks, etc) and as I am modifying a page and can simply make an improvement.
I have improved some of the lists so they look better with more appropriate information and I added approximate ages to the athlete list page.
More improvements will be made by the end of the year including a new submit function which will allow people to submit more results for any athlete and an improved navigation to let the users get to information with less clicks.
Way to go, John!
To access the complete list of performers in any event, just click the “Show complete…” phrase in the blue bar titles of each event.
If your marks aren’t listed, you have no excuse. You can post them yourself.
USATF elites, eat your hearts out.
Masters rankings for 2006? The mystery grows
For the past few years, Dave Clingan (co-webmaster of this site) has been keeping seasonal lists for USATF — tracking the best performances in all masters age groups. At the Jacksonville meeting a month ago, USATF Masters T&F was to decide on how to proceed with this rankings program. What’s the upshot? I haven’t a clue.
13 Responses
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Becca Gillespy - December 29, 2005
Just do your own rankings. Why do you need USATF’s blessing?
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francisanthonyschiro - December 30, 2005
We can only hope that Dave continues doing the rankings….He does a great job…If ANYTHING USATF should send him a check and LEAVE US ALONE.
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Rick Riddle - December 30, 2005
The rankings allow everyone to understand the significance of their performance as it relates to other competitors. All of my track friends use the list for many different purposes throughout the year.
When I meet new people on the track and they express an interest in joining our sport, they always ask “how fast do I need to run to be competitive?” I point them in the direction of the rankings for that information.
It’s difficult to imagine not having a “list”.
No list would be like not having electricity in 2006.
How would I know that I am still a middle of the packer?
And a big AMEN to Mr.Schiro’s comments. A big check! -
Mary Harada - December 30, 2005
I agree with the sentiments expressed above,many many thanks to Dave Clingan for his hard work at the masters rankings. Those of us who are not out setting world records like to know – during the season- how we stack up against others in our respective age groups. End of the year rankings are “nice” but more useful are the during the year updates that allow us to see how we are doing and how our friends are doing as well. It is a great motivator.
Let USATF do its own thing and please Dave – continue to do your thing. USATF does not have the interest of masters athletes in mind when it comes out with its programs. -
Paul Brown - December 30, 2005
I love the current set-up of how the Masters lists are kept. During the season I check them almost daily to see if there are any new times. Dave even gives you the date of the next update. I am like Snow White’s wicked step-mother checking the mirror everyday to see “who is the fairest (fastest) one of all!!
Dave’s list have given our sport some statistical credibility and have heightened the competitive aspect to the tenth power. -
Michael Walker - December 30, 2005
I agree with Paul Brown’s comments, the rankings are a great motivational tool. I would add that my thinking is that the Masters Rankings should be kept by someone who is directly interested in Masters Track. I suspect that if done by others, it would not be considered as important and not done as well or updated as often.
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Kettrell Berry - December 30, 2005
I am a daily reader of the rankings as many of my fellow track and field Athletes are. Keep the rankings coming Dave.
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Peter Magill - December 31, 2005
If it weren’t for Dave’s rankings, I would never have known the masters community even existed! The same goes for masterstrack.com! Seriously, these lists are the lifeblood of the masters community. We can’t all travel. We can’t all compete against one another head-to-head. But we can all run our local races, email the results to Dave, and then take our place in the lists alongside our masters peers.
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Dave Clingan - December 31, 2005
Many thanks for all the kind words of support! I’m still waiting for feedback from USATF regarding what their future plans are for masters rankings. As soon as I find out what’s going on, I will pass the infomation along.
Meanwhile, I want to thank Larry Patz for his invaluable assistance year after year with rankings, as well as Tom Higbie who has been maintaining the racewalk rankings lists. Without them, this would be an impossible task. -
Horace Grant - January 1, 2006
Dave does a great job! Let’s transfer the Invitational Program over to him as well!!
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John Stilbert - January 2, 2006
I’m another one of those folks who view Dave’s rankings almost daily during the season. I love the job he does, and I can’t imagine that USATF interventions would do anything other than just mess it up.
When one isn’t always able to compete head-to-head with other athletes under actual meet conditions, Dave’s rankings provide the next best thing. And his year-end rankings are how I judge my season. -
Larry please forgive me..when i spoke kind words of Dave you were TOTALLY included..you have ALWAYS been kind and responsive to any of my questions or requests…Both you guys are “priceless”…THANK YOU…..My advice to BOTH of you is to steer clear of ANY USATF “involvement” any Masters athlete with ANY awareness of REALITY knows that they dont give a DAMM about Masters track and Field……They PROVE it constantly……
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stefan waltermann - January 4, 2006
If I need motivation, I go to Dave’s rankings and Ken’s ranting. I get the performances of many and the passion of one!
3 Responses
The rankings are just superb!And also John responds to problems or questions right away. I know since there was a problem with my weight pentathlon results from Dallas Masters Track meet in July,2007
Phyllis Provost
Lewisville,Tx.
As a first year master’s runner, I enjoyed the thrill of seeing how long my early season marks would stay in the Top 25. Now my mediocrity is forever documented! Seriously, though, John has done such a great service to all of us and I wish to extend my great thanks. Since most meet directors in my area seem unwilling or incapable of publishing results, this is about the only source of recognition we can get.
Bob Krile
Columbus, OH
John has given back a lot to the sport, and I hope this helps the selectors move him up from “honorable mention” in the David Pain Distinguished Service Award for next year.
Now if he could only get off the plane and into the circle more frequently, that SuperWeight distance will improve…
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