Gary Snyder running for re-election as masters chair
In an email note about the USOC-imposed restructuring of USATF, Masters T&F Chairman Gary Snyder explains his absence from USATF board meeting that decided to expel masters from the board (Gary had scheduled vacation with potential loss if travel canceled). Gary also says he’s decided to run for a full term as chairman this winter at the annual meeting in Reno. (His current term is for two years, finishing George Mathews’ stint after he resigned in 2006.) “Speaking of the future,” Gary writes, “many of you have asked me if I intend to run for reelection and my answer is yes. I view restructure as a significant opportunity for positive change and intend to provide the leadership.”
Treat at Spokane nationals: Meet pioneer David Pain!
David Pain, who almost singlehandedly started masters track in North America and Europe, will attend the USATF Masters National Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Spokane — 40 years after he organized the first USA masters nationals in San Diego in 1968. He’ll be 86 when he arrives August 8, accompanied by his wife, Linda, and daughter Robin. Although he was a champion middle-distance runner in his 40s and a bicycling star into his 70s, he now uses a wheelchair. (But Pain, a retired San Diego lawyer, is as sharp mentally as ever. Last year he completed a term as a member of the San Diego County Grand Jury.)
British Columbia masters setting records up north
Eugene may be the center of the track universe this week (and next 10 days), but masters track isn’t ceasing. Farther up the Left Coast, British Columbia masters set some records (Canadian mainly), reports this newspaper account. Jeff Hartwig jumps in a short bit in the men’s prelims at the Olympic Trials, so be sure to wander over to my live Eugene Trials blog.
Bradstock bid for Trials: ‘Not asking for special favors’
Roald Bradstock, the British Olympian who still throws 230 feet in the javelin at age 46, has been on a rollercoaster the past week as he seeks confirmation of his fate: Will he or won’t he compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials? An American citizen since 1996, Roald has gotten different signals on the size of the men’s javelin field in Eugene next week. Currently, he’s out. The cut is supposedly at 24, and he’s No. 25. But who knows what tomorrow will bring? Maybe his appeal for fairness on the Track & Field News message board might sway some tiptop USATF official. RB appears to be a victim of some questionable decision-making. At least Jeff Hartwig is in at 40.
USATF banishes Masters T&F from its governing board
Details are sketchy, but my sources indicate that the USATF Board of Directors last Saturday voted — at the USOC’s gunpoint — to shave members off its board, including our representative: Chairman Gary Snyder of the USATF Masters T&F Committee. So far, USATF has issued only a cryptic statement on the reorg. My sole source writes me: “As predicted, the USATF Board of Directors voted Saturday to reduce their size to 15 from 30-plus, eliminating the representation of Masters Track & Field.”
Did Midwest flooding wash away masters deca nationals?
Last weekend, Joplin, Missouri, was scheduled to host the USATF National Masters Decathlon Championships. But so far, I can’t find a Web site that hosts the results of this meet, which was to include visiting British athletes in a “decathlon challenge.” The list of entrants shows some superstars. Was the meet rained (or flooded) out? If anyone can solve the mystery of the missing deca at Missouri Southern State University, please let us know. Thankee!
Peter Taylor seeking assistants for Spokane nationals
Peter Taylor is an ironman at nationals, putting in ungodly hours as he does God’s work announcing the meets. He’ll reprise this gig in August at Spokane, but he’s not assuming the LOC will provide spotters and refreshment aides. So on his behalf, I’m posting Pete’s appeal: “I need an assistant (ideally one for each of the four days). . . . for keeping the papers straight. . . contacting the people at the discus, shot, etc. to see who are the leaders . . . finding out how high the bar is in the HJ and PV . . . . handing me sheets to announce the photography groups, the T-shirt groups, the sponsors, etc.” And last but not least: “keeping me from going nuts.”
Comfort for Southern masters: Meets are coming up
Even though Baton Rouge hosted the masters nationals back in 2001, the Southern states haven’t been known as a hotbed for masters track. Now some folks in the USATF Southern Association are trying to change that. This weekend, the association is returning to LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium for its regional masters championships. And some big names are entered, including M55 all-world sprinter Bill Collins and multi-event champion Robert Baker. The association also has launched its own message board. I sent a message to the meet director of Saturday’s shindig, Byron D. Turner, and he graciously replied. Byron is an Army officer. But this weekend, his mission is putting on a good show for the masters.
Los Gatos results show Glynn going even higher in vault
Results from the USATF Pacific Association Masters Championships (see below) have Kay Glynn down for 10-1 1/4 in the W55 vault — probably 3.08 meters — not the 3.07 cited earlier as a world age-group record. A fantastic jump no matter what. (Kay also won the high jump, long jump and triple jump. Whew!) Other events at Los Gatos High School over the weekend had their stars as well, including M70 sprinter Gary Sims, who clocked 13.80 and 28.19. And Olympians Amy Acuff (high jump) and Kevin McMahon (hammer) did some tuning up before the Trials.
‘T.R.A.C.K. Live!’ determined to soldier on — in secrecy
The masters track reality TV show is game on — for now. Despite rumors of “T.R.A.C.K. Dead!” a recent email communication from producer Julia Dudley to entrants suggests that Phase 2, which includes Olympian coaches helping masters athletes train for the next meet, will take place in July. But Julia signs off with this dyspeptic note: “Although some of you may be curious as to the many happenings of the show, please do not ask the contestants or coaches who were there because they are under a confidentiality agreement. This prevents said false rumors or information that circulated through blogs the first time around.”
