Heads in the stars: new world record-holders for the M35 4×8
Exactly a month ago, the team of Miles Smith (2:01), Michael Schroer (1:54), Jason Rhodes (1:59) and Scott Anderson (1:58) shattered the listed M35 world record in the 4×800 at the College of William & Mary — clocking 7:55.67 to break the WMA WR of 8:11.84 by a Spanish team in 2008. The listed American record was 8:22.95 by Robert VanCleve, Brad Dittmar, Chris Yorges and Chad Newton at 2006 Charlotte nationals. I contacted Jason, and he immediately responded to my questions. Among other things, we learn this was his first masters race. Nice! A WR your first time out! Our quickie Q&A follows.
From left are Miles, Mike, Scott and Jason after their M35 world record.
Masterstrack.com: How did you put this foursome together?
Jason Rhodes: Miles and I worked together at NASA (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) last year and started running together for fun. We eventually decided to get serious and chase this record. I ran with Scott when I was a grad student at Princeton and he was an undergrad. I also ran with Scott and Mike during the 1999-2000 season when we all lived in Washington, D.C., and trained with the Reebok Enclave club.
I live in Los Angeles. Miles used to live there but moved to State College, PA, last year. Scott lives in Washington, D.C. Mike is currently living in Korea because his wife is an Army surgeon. But he was in South Carolina the weekend of April 3 looking for houses and that’s how we picked that weekend to run.
Did you get record paperwork filled out and sent to Sandy Pashkin at USATF?
I did send it all in right after the meet. Chuck Shields told me what to do (I got in touch with him after I saw the men’s 40 indoor record this year on letsrun.com).
Who knew about your record attempt? Did the folks running at Mt. SAC know the record was set April 3?
We didn’t publicize it too much. The meet director at Colonial knew why we were there. I told the Mt. SAC meet director and the other teams before the meet, so everyone knew we had already set a record a few weeks earlier.
Will you be shooting for any other M35 relay records?
We thought about shooting for a (distance medley relay) record, but I couldn’t find one anywhere!
Where do you and the other guys live? What are your occupations?
I am an astrophysicist with NASA. Miles is an astrophysicist at Penn State. Mike coaches high school track (but has a master’s in history from Georgetown). Scott works in risk management in the financial sector in Washington (MBA from University of Chicago). I am looking forward to more masters running. It was great fun.
4 Responses
Jason,
Congrats on your record ! Great job ! Hope to meet up with you in the near future. Sacramento, maybe ?
Do you need a degree to be an astrophysicist?
I remember filling out a questionnaire at a Masters nationals in Eugene I believe that among other things asked us to list our educational level, income, etc. The results were listed somewhere later on and I found them interesting. Many accomplished and highly educated masters athletes out there.
Does anyone have those results? Will we be filling out a similar questionnaire at Nationals this year?
I was kidding about the astrophysicist.
Chuck, I am done for this year but I’ll be back next year. Matt the degree helps to get the job, but I seldome use it!
I was at Rice University when Miles Smith was a syudent from Cambridge. I have lost track of him and just happened to run across this article and photo of his team for Track and Field. If tou know how I can get a hold if him please let me know.
Thanks,
Dr. Cynthia Lanier
Austin Texas
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