We two Stones (the lovely Chris and skinny Ken) are heading for Spokane today, and who knows how my Net connection will be on the road. But here’s some newsy news for ya, anyway: The just-completed Eurovets championships in Slovenia had some great performances, but maybe not as good as they think. The site boasts 10 world records set. But an informed witness doubts that.

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I don’t have anything against vaulters, honest. Some of my best friends are vaultish. But while preparing lists of world champions from Clermont-Ferrand and Riccione entered at Spokane nationals, I overlooked three stick-jumpers: M40 Trevor Richards, M80 Bud Held and W65 Nadine O’Connor. All took gold in Italy. My apologies. I’ve updated the USATF Masters Media Committee press release to reflect this. Click here for the updated release. (FYI: Among the 23 indoor and 21 outdoor world champs, there is some overlap. But the total sounds better than excluding the double-dippers.)

By virtue of no authority, I hereby name David Ortman of Seattle the poet laureate of masters track. At least for this week. On the eve of the Spokane masters nationals, starting Thursday, Dave has tweaked a famous Kenny Rogers tune, making it ours. On a more serious note, check the Forum for a lively debate on late registration — and Andy Hecker’s thrwarted efforts to allow folks to enter any meet on the day of event. (Andy posted a long note under his handle trackinfo.)

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The folks Up Over had their three-day nationals over the weekend, and complete results are posted. Haven’t had time to inspect them closely. If you were in Regina, Saskatchewan, for the meet, let us know how things went! See anything amazing, funny, pathetic? Just post a comment below. I spoze a number of these good folks will mosey on down to Spokane for USA masters nationals.

An illegal wind of 4.1 mps (about 9 mph) helped Steve Robbins clock an essentially solo 25.36 in the 200-meter dash at Day 2 of the Hayward Classic yesterday. The video below is among 22 posted at runnerspace from the meet at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. He holds the M65 world record of 25.20 from earlier this year.

Hayward Field has seen the fastest (9.68) race ever run and now one of the slowest. But it’s still a world age-group record. At Day 1 of the Hayward Classic yesterday in Eugene, Bill Lauderback of Bend, Oregon, chopped a couple seconds off his listed M90 American record for the mile. He clocked 10:52.98 at age 91, faster than his own listed AR of 10:54.62, which is faster than the listed WR, you’ll recall. Click here for a video of his race. Complete results are being posted here. And Bill also ran the 100 and 400! In the high jump, Bruce McBarnette became the No. 2 M50 of all time with a U.S. record 1.91 (6-3 1/4) — behind only the legendary 2.00 (6-6 3/4) indoors by Germany’s Thomas Zacharias in 1997. Here’s Bill, interviewed by Kevin Ullman:

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It was like pulling polar bear teeth, but we finally have an unofficial, subject-to-change time schedule for Spokane masters nationals — which starts in only five days. The Games Committee headed by Jim Flanik finally relented and made the sked public. (Click here for the events and times.) Neither the local organizers nor USATF’s Indy media office was responsible for the holdup. I’ve also posted a new, improved press release that lists Olympians and current world champions entered.

What does this have to do with masters track? Nothing. But a masters sprinter friend of mine shared the link, so there. You’ll get a kick out of it — even if you weren’t born between 1946 and 1964, the Age of Boomer.

The listserve of the USATF National Officials Committee reminds us of a looming deadline: Sept. 4 is the last chance to propose changes to USATF rules. Every other year is a rule-change year. (It alternates with bylaws-change years.) Proposals will be considered at the December 2008 USATF annual meeting (aka convention) in Reno, Nevada. (The officials committee says Aug. 20 is the deadline for proposals, but this USATF page says Sept. 4 is when the window closes. Just in case anyone says you’re late.) “Amendments may be submitted only by a member of USATF,” the page says. But you don’t have to have a highfalutin title either. Think about how your event is conducted. What would make it more efficient, safer or more fair to masters?

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It won’t be Eugene 2003 (with a turnout of 1,400), but the 2008 edition of the USATF Masters Outdoor National Track & Field Championships next week will boast plenty of horses. Here’s a sneak preview of the press release (updated Aug. 2) touting our 40th anniversary nationals. Spokane is hosting our meet just as the Olympics begin (in China, right?), so don’t look for much national coverage. Don’t look for a webcast either, as we had a year ago in Orono, Maine. On my MAD blog, I noted the poor attendance projected for Spokane. But let’s not dwell on that. Also, let’s wish our northern neighbors well. The Canadian masters nationals begin today and are previewed here.