Since it takes me 13 minutes to run 5 laps, I have trouble fathoming Bernard Lagatâs latest otherworldly 5K mark. Thursday in Zurich, he ran 5,000 meters in 12:59.92 on a wet track, becoming the oldest man to go sub-13. He already holds the M35 world record (12:53.60 last year), but everyone knows you lose a step at this age. So the latest run ainât a record. Just a jaw-dropper. And while weâre chatting, consider this: His time is worth 12:34 (back-to-back-to-back 4-minute miles) on the Age-Graded Tables. But may I ask a simple favor of record-keepers at USATF and World Masters Athletics? His name is Bernard, not Bernand. Give the guy some respect.
Rob Jerome graciously writes: âThought you might like this update on NYC Masters Pole Vaulter Jerry Cahill 3 months after a double lung transplant due to cystic fibrosis. Inspirational guy. Already back to running.â Rob shared link to video, which has the description: âFor 56 years, Jerry Cahill has courageously battled cystic fibrosis while awaiting a life-saving double-lung transplant. In May 2012, Jerry got the call. A new pair of lungs had become available. As a testament to his courage and dogged perseverance, Jerry crossed the finish line at the 2012 Boomerâs Run to Breathe 10K â barely three months removed from his transplant surgery. Now, for the first time since that surgery, Jerry opens up about life before and after receiving a new set of lungs.â
U-T San Diego, which used to be known as The San Diego Union-Tribune, aims to feature some entrants in the upcoming San Diego Senior Games. Rather than reads minds, Iâd like your help in identifying athletes with interesting stories who might not be familiar to U-T readers. (Sorry, Rita and Nadine.) If youâre entering the Sept. 22 meet at San Diego Mesa College, send me your name and phone number. (Write me privately at TrackCEO@aol.com.) Meanwhile, our friend Doug Smith shares some info on the meet, which wonât be held this year at seaside Point Loma Nazarene University.
Mesa College is home of the Olympians. (Thatâs the school mascot name.).
Milers may dispute this, but I think 2012 may become known as Year of the High Jumper in masters track. Latest evidence was posted on the Eurovets website: âVladimir Kuntsevich from Russia jumped to a new world record [last] Monday morning [at the just-ended European masters championships]. The Russian athlete practiced in High Jump (age group M60) and jumped 1.81 meters [5-11 1/4] high. Kuntsevich began his competition with 1.40 meters [4-7] and jumped all highs in the first try also 1.81 meters. The old record (1.80) was jumped by Thomas Zacharias from Germany in 2007. The second place went to Alexander Grishaev (RUS) and Jan Huijbers from the Netherlands won bronze.â See his straddle from early 2011.
M65 sprinter-jumper Joe Johnston wants a no-false-start rule in masters track â just like the IAAF elites. In fact, he writes that heâs made a proposal to the USATF national convention in November to that effect. See below. But this is probably a losing cause, since the NFS rule was tossed a decade ago after a major push led by the late Louise Tricard, a sprinter and womenâs track historian. I covered this issue in my original Masters T&F Home Page. I was agin it. Joe, who also has a gloves proposal for the masters vault, says â âI made these two submissions in May and have encountered the negativism & confusion (on different levels & by different people involved in the process) that goes with the convoluted process. I hope that we can get these ideas out there so the athletes involved can express their feelings before the convention in December.â BTW, the deadline for proposing changes in USATF rules is Aug. 29.
Pete Magill of South Pasadena at Anaheim 5K in June.
Pete Magill, M50 road/track legend, tells Runnerâs World that heâs tired of being dissed for not running the 26.2-mile distance. So heâs announced heâll run in the USATF Masters Marathon Championships in October. Thatâs at the Twin Cities Marathon. Pete says: âIâm really tired of my neighbor, whoâs run 5:30 or 6:00 for the marathon, telling me that if I trained harder I could do marathons.â Earlier, he said: âBut the truth is, after six national masters cross country titles, and numerous American age-group records, I get tired of people suggesting Iâm not a real distance runner because I havenât run a marathon. ⊠If I fall on my face at Twin Cities, Iâll still go out with the guys after the race and have a few beers, and come up with reasons to do the next fun thing in running.â Thatâs our Pete. Godspeed!
George Mathews graciously writes: âFive American Records Set at USA Masters Throws Champions at West Seattle Stadium Seattle, Washington. On August 18th and 19th in a national championship which attracted 69 athletes from all over the Unites States, Carol Finsrud of Lockhart, Texas, set 3 American records. In the womenâs 55-59 age group she broke the American record in the 25-pound super weight with a mark of 32-5Ÿ, winning the super weight championship, on her way to breaking the womenâs Ultra Weight Pentathlon record with a mark of 4621 points. This was also the highest score for any women.â See results here.
Ultraweight contestants pose with their concrete-block implements. Advil?
Dragutin Topic goes 7-5 3/4 at 41. Jamie Nieto goes 7-7 at 35. Now indoor specialist Carlo ThrĂ€nhardt â aka the Jim Barrineau of Europe â has joined the 2012 record parade by clearing a WR 1.87 meters (6-1 1/2) Friday at the annual flopfest at Eberstadt, Germany. Oh, and did we mention Carlo is 55? The listed WR is the legendary 1.84 (6-0 1/2) by fellow German Thomas Zacharias in 2006. Jim writes about Carlo, his former rival, that 1.87 age-grades to 2.42 (7-11 1/4), Carloâs real-life indoor PR. âFor comparison, my 1.80 (the recent 5-10 3/4 American record) was worth 2.38 (7-9 3/4) and Bruce [McBarnetteâs] 1.84 was worth 2.37 (7-9 1/4),â Jim writes.  For his part, Carlo is quoted as saying: âIt was so hot like 23 years ago, only 50 centimeters lower, but the feeling was there again.â
Carlo exploded into masters high jump history with his 6-1 1/2 clearance.
Throwers have pentathlons, so why not runners? Thatâs the theory behind the third annual Greater Philadelphia Runners Pentathlon held August 12 at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. The club reports: âLorraine Jasper of Athena Track Club led from the first event, 3000, and was never seriously challenged after placing close second in the two previous years. She opted to change up her strategy by selecting the 400 in lieu of her specialty race, the 800.â She was trailed (in age-graded times) by Chuck Shields, Sean Patrick Oswald, Delvin Dinkins and Duncan Smith. Greater Philadelphia TC claimed the team prize. Eight teams competed, including Gotham Spark from NYC, âwhich who would have factored in the team championship had they not missed the first event,â Iâm told. See results.
Hereâs Lorraine with her trophy. She accepts top prize from meet director Kyle Mecklenborg (left) and GPTC President Bill Kampf. (Photos by John Tran)
World-class long sprinter Kettrell Berry, who last competed in 2011, appeared in a San Diego courtroom this morning and heard testimony from a 16-year-old former student at a school where he was an assistant principal. The court heard her account in the molestation case, and the judge ordered him to trial. Kettrell, 49, denies the charges and is free on $150,000 bail in the 13-count criminal case. He faces more than 11 years in prison if convicted, according to one account. We havenât heard his side yet.
Ken has followed track as an athlete, writer and web-master since the late 1960s, and saw most sessions of track and field at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He also attended the 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Trials, the last three as a blogger and Patch correspondent. [More...]
