Bloomington nationals netted 15 world indoor records (not Lida 200)

8 Canadian records for Christa.

Thanks to USATF.org, we have a more complete accounting of the WRs set at Bloomington. The highlights include Jeanne Daprano notching her third world record on Day 3 (800), Kathy Bergen going sub 32 in the 2 for W70, and Canada’s Christa Bortignon improving her own W75 world record in the 60 hurdles (from 13.63 to 13.39), 200 (from 35.56 to 34.53) and a new pentathlon record of 4494 points. She also set Canadian records in the 800 (3:47.46) and high jump (1.10 meters). A total of eight national records. Whew! (And as I prophesied, USATF gave M75 Bob Lida credit for 200 WR, where he’s run faster this season.)

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March 21, 2012  2 Comments

Hoosier hospitality, Bloomington nationals get raves from sprinter

M65 sprinter Rick Parker writes regarding Bloomington nationals: “I think something ought to be said about how WELL this meet was run – especially in light of all the distraction about financial disclosures, lawsuits, TRO’s, etc.” Good point. In light of recent meltdowns at Landover and Albuquerque indoor masters nationals, with records being lost amid timing problems, it’s great to hear the weekend meet lacked that drama. Rick continues: “Latashia Key and Robert Thomas did a fantastic job! This was my sixth USATF Masters national meet and it was run as well or better than any of those I’ve attended.”

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March 20, 2012  33 Comments

Earl Fee speaks for the feet — and doubts trendy ‘minimalist’ shoes

Earl Fee, WR man, author

Earl Fee may finish writing books but never thinking about their subjects. So the Canadian WR man couldn’t wait to express his views on “minimalist” running shoes. His bottom line? Beware. “Lately, I had been reading a lot about the advantages of minimalist shoes and even barefoot running,” Earl writes in an essay he shared. “And besides I like the freedom and floating feeling of training in lighter shoes. Hence I do not wear my orthotics for training or racing as they are too heavy ─ weighing 3 ounces each foot ─ typical of most orthotics. So I recently decided to start training in light racing flat neutral Saucony shoes (about 9 ounces per foot ) instead of my regular more supportive neutral shoes (about 14 ounces per size-12 shoe), e.g., Asics Gel Cumulus 12). The latter shoe is lighter than most trainers but still feels somewhat heavy.”

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March 19, 2012  18 Comments

Jeanne Daprano sets third record at Bloomington indoor nationals

Jeanne (with Nolan Shaheed) has been setting records for years.

As expected, Bob Lida won the M75 200 at Bloomington today. In fact, his time of 27.86 is denoted as an American record, beating the listed mark of 29.57. But if USATF is heads-up, they won’t call it a record. Bob ran 27.03 in mid-January. On the other hand, Jeanne Daprano did something no W75 runner has done indoors before— run 800 meters in sub 3:20. Her 3:18.48 crushed the listed American record of 3:46.79 by Louise Adams in 1997 and the listed indoor WR of 3:26.45 by Germany’s Elfriede Hodapp in 2011. The outdoor WR is Jeanne’s own 3:07.35. This was predictable — since Jeanne set an American record at 400 on Friday and a world record in the mile Saturday. I haven’t reviewed all the finals yet, so I’m probably missing some major marks. Let us know your favorites — and nominate this coming week’s USATF Athlete of the Week. (But Jeanne is my pick.) See results here.

March 18, 2012  7 Comments

Bill Collins’ stunning comeback from illiness: indoor WR in 60 at 61

My fave shot of Bill Collins.

Only months ago, Bill Collins was worried about his career, having been diagnosed with Guillain-BarrĂ© syndrome. Now his main concern is where to hang his latest national gold medal. At Bloomington today, Bill at 61 ran 60 meters in 7.58 seconds to shatter the listed M60 world indoor record of 7.66 by Vladimir Vybostok in 2007. That age-grades to a time of 6.22 seconds. The real IAAF world record is 6.39 by Mo Greene. So this is stunning. Also amazing was the 7:13.51 mile by Georgia’s Jeanne Daprano — which demolishes the listed W75 WR of 8:05.93 by Canada’s Helly Visser in 2011. Mary Harada’s AR of 8:21.50 also fell. How good is 7:13.52 for a 75-year-old woman? Try 4:08.9 on the Age-Graded Tables. The real WR is 4:17.14 by Doina Melinte. Other records were set as well. And a great M90 race was won by John Means in 11.90 — ahead of Ralph Maxwell and Orville Rogers. You guys blow me away!

March 17, 2012  16 Comments

Raschker, Lida lead record barrage at Bloomington indoor nationals

After Day 1 of indoor nationals, my breath is already taken away: Six world records set, trumpets the posting on USATF.org I haven’t checked to see if earlier, unreported marks are superior, but these look current. Phil Raschker has more world records to my her name than I have hairs on my head, and M75 Bob Lida has been on fire all season. So no surprises there. Results are posted here. I can’t wait to see how the rest of 800 entrants fare. M90 Ralph Maxwell upped the pentathlon WR and Canada’s Christa Bortignon got the WR in the W75 pentathlon in Friday’s competition at Indiana University. Also, we learn: “Additional American records Friday included: Jeanne Daprano in the W70 400m in 1:21.28; Danelle Readinger in the W35 pentathlon with a score of 2,446; Max Green in the M80 3,000m race walk in a time of 20:02.76 and Nolan Shaheed in the M60 3,000m run in a time of 9:48.84.”

Phil appears all alone (as usual) in last event of the pentathlon: 800

March 17, 2012  One Comment

Neni Lewis awaits surgery on March 30, hoping to avert paralysis

Neni Lewis is master of all throws.

Masters Hall of Famer Neni Lewis easily is the greatest age-group thrower in history, especially in the hammer and weight. But her injury riddled career has suffered yet another blow. “I am out for the year and hopefully not out for good,” she wrote me this week.  “It has been suggested that I may have to find something else to do. We will see.  I may have to whip out my old spikes & become a sprinter again.” What pluck and humor. But her latest setback is serious. “I had a nasty fall off a ladder back in December and hurt my back and hip,” Neni writes. “I took some time off to heal and I competed at the Masters Eastern Regionals in Providence, RI, on January 29, broke the world record for the weight throw and did well in the shotput and super weight, considering that I did not get a chance to practice that much.”

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March 16, 2012  11 Comments

John Ward Masters Games Outlives Host Men’s Track Program

Thank goodness for women’s track. If Santa Ana College (south of Los Angeles) didn’t have a women’s team, the long-lived John Ward Masters Games might be dead. I got confirmation this week from Jason Kehler of the SAC Athletic Department that the masters meet will again be held — this time on Sunday, April 15. See the informational flier. “Proceeds to benefit Santa Ana College Track & Field,” says the sheet. Who was John Ward? He coached at Santa Ana College for 27 years and headed the track and cross country programs, among others. He was a great friend of masters track.

March 13, 2012  9 Comments

The essence of masters track epitomized by indoor hep nationals

Andrew Boyce

If anyone asks what’s special about masters track, here’s your answer: We take a licking and keep on ticking. The latest examples were winners at the USATF National Masters Indoor Heptathlon Championships, where two record-setters couldn’t even walk in recent years. National Masters News summarized the highlights: “Two men and two women bettered American records in the indoor heptathlon in Kenosha, Wisconsin, March 3rd and 4th. The M35 winner was Jefferson Souza, who totaled 4525 points to better the 1980 of Lee Faulkner in 2008. 
 Bettering the M45 record was Andrew Boyce with 4800 points to beat the 4422 of Jim Russ set in 2006. 
 On the women’s side two of the best in the world went after their respective age group marks. Rita Hanscom beat Kay Glynn’s 2008 mark of 5258 with 5928. [Phil] Raschker was out to beat her own 2009 total of 6328 and she did totaling 6513.” See men’s results here. See women’s results here.

From left: Christel Donley, Phil Raschker and Rita Hanscom in Wisconsin.


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March 12, 2012  10 Comments

Purely self-indulgent work request: Follow @KenStoneTrack

With my new job, I launched a new Twitter account at twitter.com/#!/KenStoneTrack. I’ll be tweeting track news as well as my takes on current events and great work by the Patch sites I oversee in San Diego County. My name will be @KenStoneTrack. If you have a Twitter account, please “follow” me. (You can always “unfollow” if I get too boring or insufferable.) Thanks for your kind consideration. And if you’d like to share YOUR Twitter handle, post them as comments below. Might as well all follow each other!

Here's how my Twitter page looked at 4:45 p.m. March 12, 2012.

March 12, 2012  2 Comments