Randy Sturgeon, the Sacramento-area publisher of National Masters News, shared the ups and downs of his decathlon training over several years. He never realized his “Miracle in Sacramento” dream at 2011 worlds, but his readers were enriched by the journey. Many people advised him on skill events, and he printed their ongoing advice. Now Randy is engaged in a much more serious process — fighting cancer. Via his NMN News Alerts and Facebook page, Randy has been updating friends and subscribers on his squamous cell cancer on his neck, “below my right tonsil and at the base of the my tongue.” He first informed people of the tumor in his NMN News Alert of Nov. 27, 2012: “

I am writing you this note to let you know of a challenge I am facing and to let you know that it will not affect National Masters News.”

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In the late 1950s, George Cohen was a California high school track star. In the 1980s, he was a pioneering masters track record holder at middle distances, winning an M40 world title for 800 in 1981. In 2009, he was inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame. And in 2010, he was my Southern California Striders teammate in a 4×4 at Sacramento nationals. George touched many people along the way, and news of his death Sunday will sadden friends around the world. Rufus Morris, another 4×4 relayist from 2010 along with Rick Muth, wrote Monday: “Our friend, George Cohen, was admitted to Centinella Hospital with an aortic aneurysm on December 9, 2012. Unfortunately, he passed away from complications on December 16, 2012. A memorial service is tentatively planned for January 21, 2013. Details will be forwarded as soon as possible.”

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Bob Lida is as quick-witted as he is fast. Three weeks ago, he was accepting his award as IAAF Best Male Masters Athlete of 2012 at the 100th anniversary Gala of the IAAF. Let Bob take it from here: “So there I was in Barcelona, at the IAAF Best Athlete of the Year Awards — and this young kid from Jamaica comes up and asks if he can have his picture taken with me. Well, anybody who knows me knows I like to encourage kids, so I said sure, come on over here. Told him that someday, if he works hard, be might be in the Masters, too. At least I think that’s how it happened — could have been the other way around. There were groupies everywhere. I just never figured I’d be one of them.”

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W60 distance legend Kathy Martin said: “What an honor and such heady company.” Joy Upshaw’s reaction to being named alongside Kathy and nine others to the USATF Masters Hall of Fame: “Wow! Really? That’s cool!” Kathy spoke for all when she said her induction “is a thrill and very humbling when I see the list of those before me and current inductees. … I was aware that I was being nominated because Mary Trotto had asked Chuck for the stats. But I also know others have nominated and not selected so uncertain as to the outcome. Sue Nesbihal (Cordero) called my cell to congratulate and that was the first I heard. Was in NYC with family for Christmas weekend-Christmas spectacular, etc., so the timing was all the more special. My husband is also my coach and he was in the car with me and heard it simultaneously. He said: “Wow, that is awesome,” and to be nominated with the two most gracious competitors is incredible (Rita and Joy). We are both flying without a plane. And my son was high-fiving us all over the place. Fantastic celebratory dinner in NYC followed by seeing the tree lit.”

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How’d you like to make $168,000 an hour for sprinting? Actually, that’s what 10.7 seconds of work is worth for a top prize of $500 at the Flash 100 invitational March 15-16 at San Diego State University. The event is being folded into the USATF Masters Invitational circuit overseen by Mark Cleary. And a rough draft of the entry form shows prize money as follows: $500 for first, $300 for second and $100 for third, with $100 bonus for world age-group record. Prize money is common for masters roadies, but rare for sprinters. We used to have a $100 prize for the winner of the handicap 100 at national masters meets — organized by National Masters News. and Australia is famed for professional age-group handicap sprints. But masters sprinters rarely have a pay day, so this is momentous. Check out the original post for more info. Kuba Wasowski is behind event.

What would you think of a sprint summit of the fastest 40-plus male sprinters in the world, and a meet to decide the King of the Masters Hill? It’s no fantasy. In mid-March, organizers of the 35th annual Aztec Track & Field Invitational at San Diego State University hope to recruit the strongest field of middle-age sprinters in history. A “provisional invitation list” being circulated is a Who’s Who of our Geezer dashmen: Americans Willie Gault, Jeff Laynes and Aaron Thigpen, plus Chris Williams of Jamaica, Darren Scott and Mark Dunwell of UK, Pedro Pablo Nolet Canto of Spain and Andrea Benatti of Italy. See their stats below. (And a world rankings here.) And see this flier of the meet, with all the entry and schedule info. Have questions? Contact Flash 100 event organizer Kuba Wasowski.

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BBC in August did a nice video vignette on Olympian Earl Bell’s dad, M90 William Bell. His running skill is as impressive as his jumping. The listed outdoor WR is 1.43 meters (4-8 1/4) by Ralph Maxwell at 2011 Berea masters nationals, and the indoor M90 best is 1.82 (5-11 1/2) by Don Pellmann. But Dr. Bell’s indoor 7-2 (2.19) didn’t appear to be at a sanctioned meet, so he’ll have to show up for a real meet to claim the record. But what a hunk! Meanwhile apologies for being scarce here lately. I’ve been up late cranking out stories for Patch. Notable efforts this week include: The Rock on Half Dome: How Dani and Sylvia Found Triumph Amid Tragedy, Local Media ‘Dropped the Ball’ in Covering Judge Candidate, KPBS News Chief Says and Ex-‘Secret Millionaire’ Bypasses Dating Sites for Billboard in Barrio Logan. See? I’m not just a world-class sprinter!

The USATF Masters T&F Awards Committee led by Mary Trotto has released its list of age-category winners, topped by IAAF Best Male Master Bob Lida and overall Masters Athlete of the Year Jeanne Daprano. The committee (which I belong to) also chose masters publicity czar Bob Weiner for the David Pain Distinguished Service Award, which makes me a runner-up for the fifth or sixth year in a row. But I’m not complaining. Bob does a great job. All 36 winners of USATF masters awards — announced at the just-ended USATF annual meeting in Daytona Beach — will be recognized at Olathe masters nationals, a meet now listed as being July 11-14, 2013.

Eleven track and long-distance legends have been inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame, according to committee member Tom Bernhard, in charge of the LDR component. Distance superstar Kathy Martin was a choice from both sides of the spectrum. She’s joined in the Hall of Fame by “T&F Actives” Phil Byrne, Rita Hanscom and Joy Upshaw, “T&F Old timers” John McManus and Roderick Parker, and “LDR Actives” Linda Somers Smith, Carmen Ayala-Troncoso and Gary Romesser. LDR old-timers inducted were Hedy Marque and Jim O’Neill (previously left off list by mistake.) Kathy was the “Joint LDR/T&F” inductee. This is the first class of inductees since 2010, because former Masters Hall of Fame Chair Norm Green had health problems and couldn’t do the job. Congrats to an incredible new class.

The University of North Florida will host the USATF National Masters Outdoor Championships in July 2015, according to a delegate at the USATF annual meeting in Daytona. It was the only bidder, I hear. The 2015 masters indoor nationals will be at an independent facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, sometime in March, beating out Bloomington, Indiana, which hosted the 2012 indoor meet. (One of the selling points at N.C: Mondo surface between the track and restrooms.) But the exact dates of the 2013 Olathe masters nationals were still in flux and were to be publicly revealed Saturday. Delegates also voted to guarantee the official status of the shuttle hurdle relay at nationals. The event also was made optional at association and regional meets — a huge victory for hurdlers led by Jeff Davison. USATF Masters Hall of Famers are due to be revealed Saturday. And thanks to masters multi-eventer Joe Johnston, pole vaulters from open to masters will be able to wear gloves in the vault. Heard anything else?