New CEO of USATF addresses questions on masters track
Doug Logan parries queries on masters doping, records, budget.
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Doug Logan, the spunky new CEO of USA Track & Field, has been making news of late with his commentary on doping and other issues. Last week, he announced on his blog he would create an “Operating Audit Panel” to review USATF’s elite operations, since the U.S. performance at Beijing was “mixed” and only a fraction of Americans had season bests at the Games. And our 4×1 relays stunk. But what really caught my eye was Logan noting that USATF’s “first purpose and duty” is: “Developing interest in and participation in Athletics in the United States at all levels and developing the highest possible performance level for the United States in international competition.” Wow! Does that include masters track? So I sent Doug a questionnaire (as I promised two months ago), and today he responded.
September 16, 2008
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Indy to USATF associations: Adopt amendment or die
The U.S. Olympic Committee isn’t the only entity making demands these days. USATF’s national office in Indianapolis has sent its 57 member associations a letter insisting that they adopt new grievance procedures. And Indy isn’t mincing words. They’ve set a drop-dead deadline of October 15, 2008 — or else. The “or else” is vague but ominous: “Failure to (amend and submit your bylaws by this date) may result in your Association’s accreditation level being modified,” says this letter. Okey-dokey. The San Diego-Imperial Association of USATF will vote on the matter tomorrow at its annual elections meeting, for example.
September 16, 2008
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Masters hurdler McCloud hypes Hightower for USATF prez
Stephanie Hightower of Ohio, a former world-class hurdler, is running for president of USA Track & Field, and her campaign manager appears to be masters hurdler Dexter McCloud. The first I heard of her candidacy came in Dexter’s post yesterday on letsrun.com. Almost immediately, she was being ripped a new one by letsrun denizens. Stephanie’s main rival, I assume, is incumbent president Bill Roe of Washington state. (Later update: Roe is termed out; see other candidates below.) Although I’ve had some titanic rows with Roe, I think Stephanie might be a step backward. She’s already under a cloud of financial mismanagement. Dexter himself has been involved in some scandals — the Charlotte DQ reversal and the Eugene Trials 5K fiasco. So who knows who’s best?
Epitome of optimism: predicting world records at 94
Jim Hammond of Minnesota claims recent bests of 18.09 in the 100 and 42.35 in the deuce. “I’m going for world records next year,” Jim told a local paper this month. Implausible? Not when you’re 94. Although a recent newspaper profile of him says he holds M90 national records (he doesn’t), Jim has a great chance at the M95 records when he enters the National Senior Olympics next year in San Francisco. But what I like most about this gent is his determined optimism, despite being legally blind.
Georgia woman is first to rank in all masters T&F events!
Lydia is ranked in 22 individual events, a historic first.
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Lydia Woods-Howze won two gold and four silver medals at the WMA regionals a couple weeks ago in Clermont, Florida. Nice haul. But you don’t know the half of it. Now 55, Lydia, who lives in Smyrna, Georgia, only began competing seriously in track in 2006. But unlike many newbies, she chose a goal that had never been accomplished. She called it the Quest: Be ranked in all 22 individual events contested in masters track. “I successfully finished my Quest on August 2, 2008, after completing the pole vault event at the Southeast Sports Festival held at Florida State University,” Lydia wrote me last month. “It was a satisfying end to a personal challenge.” (Here is her listing of events and results.) Lydia sent me a note to introduce herself, and I followed up with a Q&A. This is a stunning achievement. And despite the existence of double decathletes in the masters ranks, Lydia’s accomplishment is historic.
September 13, 2008
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USATF posts weight/super results, but not other meet’s
USATF has posted the results of its national masters weight and superweight championships, held Sept. 5 in Seattle. Click here for results. But Saturday’s ultraweight pentathon results are still not up. Sigh. About two dozen entered the Sept. 5 meet — probably the smallest national championships on the USATF schedule. Only six women showed up. Laurie Jinkins, 44, may have set an American superweight (35-pound) record of 7.12 (23-4 1/2) — since USATF doesn’t list a record in her age group. The oldest entrant: 96-year-old Leon Joslin.
Canadian women destroy W70 world record in the 4×4
Alberta Masters director Donna Dixon writes, via Doug Smith in Ontario: “I am pleased to advise that the W70 team of Mary McCarron-Egner, Helly Visser, Louise Reed and Diane Palmason shattered the world record for W70 4×400 relay at a meet at Foothills Track in Calgary last night (Tuesday, Sept. 9). They ran 6:12.25, and the old record was 6:26.99 (held by the U.S. team of Barbara Jordan, Eve Pell, Mary Harada and Jeanne Daprano set at 2007 Riccione worlds). Despite cold, wet and windy conditions, they ran even faster than they had in Regina when they were unfortunately DQ’d. CBC and CTV covered the story and there will be coverage on the Calgary stations. I have told the ladies they should go after the world indoor record next!” (Actually, WMA doesn’t even list a W70 indoor 4×4 best!)
Prayers are with our masters friends down in Houston
Hurricane Ike means to interrupt the training of masters tracksters in the Houston area, according to the latest reports. The storm is expected to arrive Friday or Saturday. Those affacted include our own sprint demigod Bill Collins and his Houston Elite TC family, including Rick Riddle, Horace Grant, Ken Thomas and George Haywood. The Houston Masters Sports Association caters to some of our friends, too. Stay out of harm’s way, guys, and let us know when you’re all home safe.
Brazil, Malaysia bid for 2013 WMA world championships
Doug Smith of Ontario reports: “News from the WMA…. Affiliates are hereby notified that when the deadline for Bids for the 2013 WMA Stadia and the 2012 Indoors Championships closed on 1st September 2008, all that had been received were letters of intention to bid from Porto Alegre (BRA) and Kuala Lumpur (MAL), both in respect of the WMA 2013 Stadia Championships. No interest has as yet been shown in the 2012 Indoors Championships.” Only one problem: WMA doesn’t like the bids — and has moved the deadline back to November 30.
Blind runner seeks donations to travel to 5K nationals
Deb Conley in Colorado has written an appeal to the organization that oversees sports for the blind in America — USABA. Deb is the guide runner for W45 sprinter/runner Luanne Burke. Deb and Luanne are looking for donations so Luanne can travel to the USATF National Disability 5K Cross Country Championship at Sunken Meadow State Park in Kings Park, N.Y. Luanne isn’t the only blind sprinter in America. Joe Aukward in the Washington, D.C., area competed in his 40s with the national blind relay team at the Paralympic Games.
