Masters shuttle hurdles to debut at Penn Relays, thanks to efforts
The Penn Relays have been good to geezers — with 100s, 4×1 and 4×4 relays in prime time, plus the crowd favorite over-75 men’s sprint race on Saturday, April 25. But something was missing: a shuttle hurdle relay for masters. That was remedied last week. Masters events coordinator Phil Felton wrote me: “You’ll no doubt be pleased to know that this year we will have an M50 heat of the shuttle hurdles at Penn — USA Red, White and Blue teams put together by Keith McQuitter.” Jeff Davison, the founding father of masters shuttles, says he wrote the request to the committee, “but Keith did all the hard work. This is several months of effort.” The tentative schedule doesn’t yet list the masters shuttles, but it should be up shortly. Great work, Keith and Jeff. Put on a show!
21 Responses
Well, this could be pretty wild, in more ways than one. First, I hope the crew at Penn sets the hurdles at the correct height. Second, I hope that the chief of FAT does a zero control test (ZCT) for the particular finish line that will be used for this event (Penn has five finish lines on the track, and races have been conducted on the infield as well).
Third, if the FAT chief indeed does a ZCT I hope he gives it up (i.e., turns it in). Fourth, I wonder which day this event will be contested. In looking at the schedule I didn’t see an obvious time to hold the event.
Finally, last year at nationals, Darnell Gatling, Michael Jones, Kerry Sloan, and Mark Williamson set an American M50 record in this event of 61.81. Unfortunately, the record was never approved. I wonder why.
I am, of course, anticipating an American record for this event three weekends from today (at Penn). Whether that happens will depend, in large measure, on how our top hurdlers are divided up among the three teams (Red, White, and Blue).
The Pending Records get approved at the Dec. Convention. Hence yes it could be broken
before it gets the final approval. In this particular case (the pending shuttle mark) it’s just a formality.
But that’s Track and Field where some records
last one day …
My Jr High School triple jump (school record)
lasted one day … oh well. At least I got that.
This year’s Penn is the M50-59 bracket only for the Shuttle. Guess they will take it one year at a time.
Penn is the home of the very first open Shuttle hurdle relay on US soil. I believe it originated in England before being introduced
to the US in the 1920s.
Thanks to Penn for putting it on.
Last note … the new USATF Competition Rules
allows the Shuttle to be included at the Masters Association, Masters Regionals, and Masters National Championships. Outdoor only.
Feel free to contact me if there are any questions on putting on a Masters Shuttle race at a local Masters meet. They are very fun but a lot of effort.
we will run in the Olympic Div spot 3.15 friday
best wishes to my brother hurdlers..! get out fast and stay low…!!! 😉
Thanks for the information on the schedule, Keith. In truth, it would be better for our shuttle hurdlers to run at 3:25 that day rather than 3:15. Why would that be?
Well, the 3:15 race is for men, and it will be 4 x 120 yards according to the schedule.
The 3:25 hurdle race will be for college women, and it will be 4 x 100 meters. With our M50 and M55 men normally running the 100-m hurdles, that race would fit better, in my opinion. Won’t happen, of course.
As a fellow hurdler, I’m glad to see the hurdle relay. Dropping down two age groups to compete. Hmmmm.
ty ..you’ll do great…! shuttle hurdles at franklin field…sacred ground…!!! i’m psyched for you all…!
First, congrats to the masters hurdlers getting to showcase their talents at the Penn Relays.
Pete-the 3:15 time should work equally as well. The men’s open hurdle relay precedes the masters. The hurdles will need to be moved to the open women’s spacing anyway, and lowered to 36″ from 42″. The hurdles will then be at the proper spacing for the open women at 3:25, but the hurdles will need to be lowered by another 3″. Guess they figure it’s easier to lower hurdles, rather than raise them
Thanks for that clarification, Ken. Apparently the masters shuttle hurdle relay will follow the Olympic Development shuttle hurdle race, not be a part of it. Let me go check the schedule, will be right back.
OK, the Olympic Development shuttle hurdles will be at 3:15 and the college women’s shuttle hurdles will go at 3:25, as you indicate. Assuming they’re on the same side of the track, I see the masters shuttle hurdle race going off about 3:21 or so.
For me, assuming a record is set, the hardest thing will be meeting all the requirements. I’ve processed Penn Relays masters records for many years, but this is the first time that I have to ensure that the results of the zero control test are furnished to the records committee.
In addition, I will have to get signatures from the FAT chief, the starter, and the referee. Does anyone know who the masters referee will be this year?
One odd thing is that the pending record was set way back in July 2014 at Winston-Salem nationals, and in December we had a national meeting of the USATF, where numerous records set at Winston-Salem were accepted.
For some reason, the shuttle hurdles record for the male 50s group set in Winston-Salem did not make the grade at the 2014 national meeting. You can see where I am going with this:
What if the winning team at Penn Relays this year breaks the listed mark for the shuttle hurdles but not the pending mark? Do I go through everything for nothing (assuming that on the second try the 2014 mark will gain acceptance)? No, it is not easy to meet all the requirements, especially at a high-security meet such as Penn.
Peter let you know any details you need about the time. No dout the time at NC will be broken by no less then 2 of the 3 teams just want to do what we set out to do
Thanks, Keith. I will ask the chief of FAT at Penn to sign the form on the day of the masters shuttle hurdles, and I will ask the starter and the referee to sign the form as well.
In addition, I will ask the chief of FAT to send the necessary computer files to the chair of masters records.
As clarification the Masters Shuttle event will be listed as a subset of the OD mens event. It may happen that one lane will be occupied by an OD team depending on entries in that division. Dave asked me for the spacings and heights for the M50 and I provided them so the crew should know what to do. Basically the OD men’s shuttle has been under subscribed lately so our coming up with three teams helps with their schedule, hence their willingness to include us. As pointed out above the Masters fit well in-between the M and W events because of the spacing, heights etc. Thanks to Keith for all the work putting the teams together.
Per Keith. Teams are eligible for
Penn Relay medals as well.
Great job Keith.
And
Thank you Peter!
Current team rosters for masters shuttles:
USA Red
KerrySloan
Darnell Gatling
Keith McQuitter
Damon Blackmore
USA White
Michael Jones jr
Robert McDaniels
Peter Grimes
Dexter McCloud
USA Blue
Robert Stanley
Lee X
Eugene Anton
Malcolm Hairston
Thanks for posting this, Ken, as it gives me a head start on helping the Penn Relays announcers with this event.
That would be Damon BLAKEMORE anchoring the USA Red team, yes? That looks like an especially strong foursome.
@Peter Taylor
ATC has entered the 4×100 m40-49 relay with a m45 Relay team that will be attempting a World and American record.
May you provide the starter and referee to sign the form for the m45 team. We will be the team wearing Bib A.
Thanks in advance Peter Taylor.
OK, Don Drummond. I’m sure you know that the WR for M45 in the 4 x 100 is 43.42 seconds, as in 10.855 seconds per man.* If you beat that mark I will buy you two bottles of lemon-lime Gatorade and will even furnish the ice.
Both of the M45 American marks are in the 47s, and you can knock them down rather easily.
BTW, what has some people confused is that in the relays we used to recognize 10-year American marks and 5-year world marks. Now we’re getting some 5-year marks in the list of American relay records, but many of the slots have not been filled.
For example, there are no American M55 or M65 marks in the 4 x 100. Why? We didn’t recognize 5-year intervals until quite recently (I am unaware of when the change was made).
______
* The world M45 4 x 100 relay record was set back in the last century, in the 1999 Gateshead worlds, to be precise. It’s so strong that it will beat a few of the marks posted by men’s college teams in this year’s Penn Relays.
Speaking of American records, for the last 3 years or so, almost every time James Lawson, Khalid Mulazim, and Marcus Shute have stepped onto the track when I was announcing I have said that they were on the fabulous M45 team at Sacramento worlds that ran 3:24.84 to win the 4 x 400.
Yes, that’s the world M45 record. Now, what is the American M45 mark for the 4 x 400 relay? The answer is that there is none, reflecting the historical practice of not having 5-year American marks for the relays.
Again, I am not aware of when the change was made to allow 5-year American marks in the relays.
Don Drummond (and others): The recent switch to having 5-year American records has obscured many far superior 4 x 100 marks made at worlds or elsewhere. For example, at Sacramento worlds (2011), an M45 team of Aaron Thigpen, Johnny Speed, Francois Boda, and Felton Turnage blazed to a 44.73 in the 4 x 100.
That is far superior to the listed American marks for M45, with the absence of the 2011 mark apparently reflecting the old practice of 10-year ranges for American records and 5-year ranges for world marks.
I would not be surprised if there are 10 or more M45 American marks in the 4 x 100 that are better than the listed marks (both of which are in the 47s).
At Penn I will process anything that breaks the listed marks, but I certainly hope the American relay marks are updated to reflect what has gone on at the worlds over the last four decades or so.
First Penn Relay Masters Shuttle Hurdle Relay:
April 24, 2015 the first Penn Relay Masters Shuttle Hurdle Relay was a success. The Masters have competed in this particular relay elsewhere, but this is the first time at the Penn. The Penn Relay is the home of the first open shuttle hurdle relay held in the USA in the 1920s (it started in England). Hopefully – Penn will host many future Masters Shuttle Hurdle Relays.
Three M50-59 Masters Shuttle Hurdle Relay teams successfully completed their relay at the 2015 Penn Relay. 1st place barely missed the current pending Masters American Record. 1st in 1:02.04; 2nd in 1:03.10; and 3rd in 1:16.44 for the 4 x 100 meter hurdle race. Penn also passed out very cool medals and plaques for the relay teams.
Great job by Keith McQuitter for organizing these shuttle hurdle relay teams.
http://pennrelaysonline.com/Results/results.aspx?en=349
1st: Kerry Sloan, Keith McQuitter, Darnell Gatling, and Damon Blakemore Sr.
2nd: Robert Stanley, Dexter McCloud, Eugene Anton, and Malcolm Hairston.
3rd: Michael Jones Sr., Robert McDaniels, Lloyd Jeremiah, and Tim McMahon.
Note: Keith McQuitter will need to confirm these teams are correct.
Leave a Reply