Oshkosh Day 2: Crashing and burning becomes contagious
Bill Collins today won perhaps his eighth straight outdoor 400 title at nationals, limped over to the artificial grass infield and plopped on the ground. I asked him, “How’s the leg?” He replied, “Hurts like hell.” Trainers at the nearby medical tent wrapped Bill’s lower leg in ice — their latest patient on Day 2 at Oshkosh nationals. Dr. John Swanson, presiding over the wounded like Trapper John of M*A*S*H, told me more than a dozen sprinters and jumpers came in for treatment of various pulls. He couldn’t explain why. But temps rose to the early 90s and humidity was high as storms passed to the north of us. And the Mondo track perhaps led many to exceed their personal speed limit. Under the concrete stands at Titan Stadium, Dr. Swanson punched 6 staples into the skull of W75 multi-eventer Flo Meiler of Vermont, closing up a 1 1/2-inch gash caused when she hit the back of her head in the pole vault box after missing an attempt at a world vault record with a borrowed pole.
And me?
I beat Flo for the staples-in-skull crown. Dr. Swanson punched 8 staples into the top-back of my head after I clanked a high jump standard on my very first jump. Lots of blood from a 3-inch laceration.. A five-minute delay while they cleaned up the pit, and the event proceeded (but without me). I scratched from the M55 100, contributing to the dropping of heats. It went straight to final on the 9-lane track.
Jim Sorensen’s own ill-fated nationals debut is being covered by his Bay Area newspaper. Check out this account of his M40 travails.
USATFs Jill Geer, reportedly visiting relatives in Wisconsin but not athletes on the track, wrote another WR report. And I’ll leave it at that.
My head doesn’t hurt, but it’s been a long day. Took a thousand photos (against doctor’s orders) and shmoozed with dozens of friends. So I’m calling it a day.
Tons of stories await.
16 Responses
Hi Ken, hope your head feels better soon!
Today was a great day for Club NW. Karen Steen set a World Record in the 2k Steeple at Masters Nationals, and Alyssa Tower set an American record in the 10k at Club Nationals: http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/USATFClubTFChampionships/results.asp
Thanks, Becca. My head is healing so fast my wife says I won’t be getting much sympathy soon.
Here’s a Day 2 news article, which quotes Steen on how she went for the steeple record:
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20090711/OSH02/907110429
Ken that was an impressive gash with staples!! War wounds!! Hope you’re feeling better today!!
Get wishes to everyone!!
Aw Shoot, I meant get WELL wishes to everyone!
This result seems to have gone under the radar—Karen Steen tops the American Record in the 2000m Steeplechase by over one minute and 9 seconds below the existing World Record. Congratulations to Karen.
Ken,
I am telling you – jumping backwards is not natural! You do not see where you are going! Try straddle ;-).
Milan
BTW. Heck, at least you have a good story 🙂
How about just: Get well :-).
Milan
Official high yesterday (Friday) was 84. All in all, it was a very pleasant day.
Ken,
Saw it happen to you. Cringed
To you and everyone else that felt some pain…
Be all better soon.
Ed
Ken,i will speak on behalf of the masters atheletes who rely on this very important web site for masters track and feild information,your determination to still inform and do the great job you do shows everyone you really are the man of stone get better ken and it is all about trying and it sends a strong message to all human effort and will power to even if we clip a hurdle or nick and bar we push on and this is the spirit of masters track at its best… be well k.stone dave ashford
Great location, very well run meet, congratulations to the organizing committee, too bad the numbers are so low. Unbelievable performance by Lonnie Hooker 10.93 with a legal wind
Great place to have nationsls. Well organized, well run. Kudos to the organizers. Facility was fast, weather really good. Much better than locations in the past, other than Oregon maybe. Hope we come back here.
This is the most efficient, well run meet I’ve attended…officials are on top of their game, the facility is fantastic and accessible and there are good places to eat in close proximity to the venue..
If they ever make a bid on us returning please USATF, take a look at Oshkosh!!
Hi was in the trainers room with many runners most with leg problem musal pulls, I WITH HAMSTRING pull the staff was wonderfull thanks for thje help get well all see you next time
Great venue. Two throwing rings, two tracks, and forty acres for javelin? You can’t beat that. Free parking out back. Really helpful refs and college kids.
We got lucky, though. Today’s forecast is severe t-storms and 60 mph gusts. There will be only two possible weather conditions next year in Sacramento: over 90 and over 100.
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