Check out the latest European indoor records list. Sweden’s Ivar Söderlind, statistician of EVAA, writes: “In 2012 until March 25, I have registered 21 European Indoor Records and 19 of these records are brought in 2012. Fifteen of the records are World Records or better than the official World Records. In 2011, I noted 58 European indoor records and 37 of these records also were World Records.” One of the more notable records was in the M95 60-meter dash, where Italy’s Giuseppe Ottaviani ran 14.28. The American record is 15.21 by San Diego’s Leland McPhie.

Indoor worlds starts April 3 in Jyväskylä, Finland, and WMA has linked to a video on drug-testing (below). It’s a little bit intelligence-insulting (with cheesy cutout animation). But what the hell. It’s understood in all languages. The meet site lists entries by country. A couple dozen from the United States will face thousands from Europe, especially the host Finns and Germany. Lots of Russians, too. You can check who’s in every event, too. WMA also says: “All competitors are kindly requested to check the time table of WMACI in Jyväskylä because of a slight revision.” Go get ’em, Yanks!

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Peter Taylor’s sister Phoebe Breskman writes this morning: “Peter got through the surgery OK. He is still in the hospital. He is now in room 267. His direct number is 703-776-7267. However, I have tried his number and he doesn’t answer. I know that he said he would have to have some tests today to determine if he could be discharged as early as today. I think it’s more likely that he will be discharged tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted as I learn more.”

Two-time British Olympian Roald Bradstock, the artist with the javelin, turns 50 next month. But he’s the No. 4 qualifier for the UK Olympic Trials. (He threw in the U.S. Olympic Trials four years ago; he has dual citizenship.) On Saturday — three months before his eighth Olympic Trials — Roald began his 40th competitive season at the Georgia Relays in Athens, GA, he writes. “On the last throw of the competition, I threw my best opening competition throw in 12 years.  The throw measured 72.35 (237-4), which was enough to win the meet. This throw moves me up to #4 on the 2012 UK Rankings and #1 on the 2012 World Masters Rankings. My next big goal in the lead up to the trials is going to be to attempt to shatter the World and National Age Record for 50+ which currently stand at 71.01, and 65.90, respectively. It should be noted that these 50+ Age World Records are done with a smaller, lighter javelin that weighs just 700 grams.” He now throws  800.

Peter Taylor’s sister Phoebe reported this morning: “I just found out from Peter that he will have surgery – probably tomorrow. The surgery is called an endartarectomy of the right carotid artery. He will probably be discharged from the hospital by the end of the week.” She also gives contact information: The address of the hospital is Inova Fairfax Hospital, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA 22042. He is in room 276 and his direct number is 703-776-4255.”

Shocking, sad news from Phoebe Breskman arrived about 7:20 p.m. Pacific time Sunday about her brother Peter: “Peter Taylor was admitted on March 24th to Fairfax Hospital on Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA, after having a stroke. Discharge date is unknown. He will not announce any meets for April or May. He will consider future meets after he sees how he feels.” That’s all I know at the moment. Peter is our national treasure, and he’s had serious health setbacks before. But a stroke is a wild card. Have no idea the extent of the damage. Some people bounce back, while others can become paralyzed and lose ability to speak. Pray for Pete.

Past week has been lousy with records and reports thereof. Latest is by W70 Marie-Louise Michelsohn, adding the indoor 400 American record to her long list — running 80.16 Friday at the Armory track in New York. She nipped the year-old AR of 80.57 by Jeanne Daprano. But Jeanne won’t mind sharing the glory. As I predicted, she was named USATF Athlete of the Week three days ago (while I was napping). Marie-Louise also ran a 3:06.57 in the 800 afterward, short of her own AR of 3:04 earlier this season. At British masters indoor nationals, Nancy Hitchmough set W60 world marks for 1500 (5:17.93) on March 17 and returned next day to set a new 800 WR too (2:37.67). (Pat Gallagher of Britain holds the listed WRs of 2:40.28 and 5:22.50.) Arthur Thompson set a WR in the M75 3K track walk. Results are here. And at German indoor nationals (see results here), we hear of four or five world records. See translation below. And M40 Jeff Laynes ran a 10.76 100 in the cold rain Saturday at the Johnny Mathis Invitational in San Francisco. (Aaron Thigpen is the best American at 10.60.) Jeff also clocked 22.54 in the deuce. (See all results here.)
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Earl Fee shares a response to some comments on his earlier essay critical of minimalist shoes. Earl writes: “When I read Steven’s response (from the CEO of minimalist Invisible Shoes no less) to my article I thought of the joke: Never ask a barber if you need a haircut. The subject of minimalist running shoes is a weighty topic. I am no expert in this area, although I have two good related chapters in my running books on running shoes and running form. My article was partly to perhaps help other runners avert some problems in adapting to lighter shoes in training. In retrospect and advice from others─ my aggressive approach (training in racing flats) in a short time instead of less intensity over a longer period could have avoided injury.”

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On the East Coast, they have the Hartshorne. On the West, the best masters mile may be Dave Clingan’s races in Portland, Oregon. My old buddy Dave writes: “The 8th annual Oregon Masters Mile is approaching, scheduled for Saturday evening, June 9 at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. This event features the top masters milers (age 30 and up) in the USA and has been the site of several American and World age-group records. This year will be especially exciting, as a couple of outstanding American runners are poised to break the world record for men in the the 50-54 age group. Any runner over 30 who runs sub 4:45 is an automatic qualifier and other runners under 5 minutes will be accepted on a space available basis. The prize money offered to the top three runners is $200 for first, $150 for second, and $100 for third. Please add this event to your calendars and spread the word. More info about the mile is on-line.”

M40 high leaper Matt McCubbins of South Bend, Indiana, writes: “This past weekend in Bloomington I was lucky enough to capture some historic high jump video, namely the record-shattering duel between Jim Barrineau and Kenny Drollinger in M55 High Jump. It’s not the highest caliber of footage, but the drama makes for an instant classic and I just had to share it. I have posted a few other Bloomington jump videos to my YouTube channel as well, but the one to watch is entitled: M55-59 High Jump: Barrineau vs. Drollinger at 2012 US Indoor Nationals [where both set two ARs]. My group’s video (M35-49) is nothing to write home about, but the other two are pretty entertaining: M50-54 High Jump at 2012 US Indoor Nationals: features Bruce McBarnette going at it with Tom Foley and Greg Vidos (yet again) Nieder vs. Witteveen at 2012 US Indoor Nationals: features Stacey Nieder doing battle with Solange Witteveen (2-time Olympian from Argentina) in the women’s high jump.” Great work, Matt! And congrats on M40 gold with your 1.74 5-8 1.2)!