Led by Germany, with 1,400 entrants, the biggest (and probably best) masters track meet this year will be the European Masters Championships starting this weekend in what they’re calling the tri-border region of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. More than 4,800 age-groupers from 38 nations will compete Aug. 16-25, including a bunch of Olympians and former world-class elites. Below is a report, translated from German, about the celeb athletes or observers, including sprinter Marlies Göhr, thrower Udo Beyer, decathlete Robert Změlík and vaulter Hans Lagerquist.

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Christa Bortignon reports from the WMA regional meet now under way in St. John, New Brunswick: “I finally got my number 10 world record — in the outdoor pentathlon with 4,743 points in the NCCWMA meet … Current W75 record is 4531 by Leila Kaas.” Results are posted here. Her series of marks: 19.71 in 80-meter hurdles, 1.09 (3-6.75) in HJ, 3.48 (11-5) in LJ, 7.58 (24-10 1/2) in shot and 3:39.57 in 800. With double-digit WRs, Christa is well-positioned to gain a North American nomination for IAAF World Best Masters Athlete of 2012. The fact she’s competing in a WMA event is bonus points.

Jim Barrineau and Kay Glynn won their respective high jumps at Lisle nationals — Jim with an M55 American record 1.80 (5-10 3/4), topping the event’s oldest record (the legendary 1.79 or 5-10 by Herm Wyatt in 1987). Kay didn’t set a record, but her W55 gold-medal performance was equally stupendous. She cleared 1.34 (4-4 3/4) at age 59 despite signaling only five months earlier that her track career might be over. After five months and five doctors, she was told Jan. 23 at the Mayo Clinic that she had been born with hip dysplasia, leading to advanced arthritis and two cysts. But she made it to Lisle and excelled. Her story follows.

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Masters-age athletes are sprinkled around London, including 39-year-old Bulgarian gymnasts. (Catch that guy on the rings!?) But track has its share. Two-time gold medalist Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania took fourth in the discus yesterday, throwing 67.38 (221-1) — at age 40. M35 Jamie Nieto, whose 2.31 (7-7) in June equals the listed WR by Dragutin Topic, took sixth in the Olympic high jump at 2.29 (7-6). The listed M35 American record is 2.15 (7-0½) by new M55 recordleaper Jim Barrineau. And how about Felix Sanchez! He wins 400 hurdle gold in Athens, slumps at Beijing (after hearing his grandmother had died just before prelims) and comes back to win gold at London in 47.63 three weeks before turning 35. I’m sure I’m missing others. Fill me in.

M75 sprint phenom Bob Lida had a boffo final day at Lisle nationals, but USATF overlooked a better day from last month. On July 14 in Topeka, Bob ran 200 meters in 27.70 at the Sunflower State Games. That demolished the listed WMA world record of 27.97 by Germany’s Wolfgang Reuter in 2005. But Jared Slinde’s final report on Lisle nationals, citing Bob’s 27.73 Sunday, says: “Robert Lida (M75) set his second world age group record in as many days while fans on the campus of Benedictine University witnessed a total of six world records and an additional 26 American records during four days of competition as the USA Masters Outdoor Championships concluded Sunday in Lisle, Ill.” So how many records listed in the press release are accurate? Who knows? In any case, congrats to everyone for beating the heat!

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Gordie Shields, an M90 cycling legend, made the announcement Saturday at David Pain’s 90th birthday party up the street from his home near San Diego State University: His longtime friend has been nominated for the prestigious Breitbard Hall of Fame at the San Diego Hall of Champions sports museum. Slam dunk it’s not. But it should be a no-brainer, considering he merely started one sports (masters track) and inspired another (triathlon). He’d be joining such no-names as Ted Williams, Bill Walton, Gail Devers and Steve Scott. My party highlight video shows Gordie’s remarks near the end.

Jared Slinde reports for USATF from Lise masters nationals: “Robert Lida became the first man over the age of 75 to ever run under 13.50 seconds in the 100-meters in winning the event in 13.49 as fans on the campus of Benedictine University witnessed another world record on day three of the USA Masters Outdoor Championships in Lisle, Ill. [The listed WR is 13.54 by Germany’s Bruno Kimmel.] A second world record Saturday came from Canada’s Christa Bortignon (W75) in the women’s triple jump at 7.58m/24-10.5. Bortignon won the competition with a mark of 7.60m/24-11.25, but the mark was ruled wind-aided. Additionally, four American records were set Saturday, which included Joan Berman (W75) in the discus (20.80m/68-3), Karlis Ezerins (M85) in the weight throw (12.21m/40-0), Lois Gilmore (W81) in the 800m (4:28.25) and Carol Finsrud (W55) in the discus (38.46m/126-2).”

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On the first day of that London kiddie meet, world records fell to not-too-old reliables Marie-Louise Michelsohn and Jeanne Daprano in the W70 steeple and W75 400 at Lisle nationals. Jared Slinde reports for USATF: “Michelsohn shattered the existing world mark in the women’s (2K) steeplechase by nearly 29 seconds en route to her winning time of 10:20.43. [This beats the listed WR of 10:49.22 by Britain’s Anne Martin in 2008.] Daprano leaned at the finish to cut two-tenths of a second off her own world record in the 400m with her … 1:22.39. The pair of performances brings the total to three world age group records set at the Masters Outdoor Championships. On Thursday Sherwood Sagedahl (M73) established an all-time world best in the pentathlon with a score of 3,806 points.”

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Four years ago, some USATF bigwigs were laughing at Roald Bradstock in his colorful suits throwing hand-painted javelins after sneaking into the U.S. Olympic Trials. Today, at age 50, he threw in the British Olympic Trials — and took second! His mark of 72.78 meters (238-9) on his first attempt is marked as a season best, and exceeds the listed M50 age-group world record. The listed WR is 71.01 (232-11) by Spain’s Luis Nogueira at 2007 Riccione worlds. But Roald won’t get the WR because he threw with an 800-gram stick and WMA’s rules specify the lighter 700-gram implement. (Here in Eugene, masters records czar Sandy Pashkin confirms that you have to throw with the masters implement to get a masters record.) In 2008, Roald threw 68.71 (225-5) in the Trials qualifying round. But his 72.78 today in Birmingham will not punch his ticket for London. The “A” qualifying standard is 82 meters (269-0). Brilliant, RB!

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Thachvu “Thac” Ho, who helped an American M35 team set a W35 world record in the 4×1 at Sacramento worlds, has announced the launch of a product he hopes will help his fellow masters. He calls it REgel, “which is a new topical gel that helps relieve pain, repair injuries, and recover from workouts faster,” says this news release. “Always injured in college, Thachvu was frustrated with all the muscle rubs with camphor/menthol that just masked the pain. ‘I wanted to create a product that used natural ingredients to help relieve muscle soreness & injuries but did not contain Performance Enhancing Drugs.'” The product website tells more. Best of luck, Thac!