David Ashford can three-step the highs at age 45. No, I mean the HIGH highs. Competing in a university/open heat today at the Mt. SAC Relays east of Los Angeles, David came close to the listed, unofficial single-age WR for 42-inch hurdles of 15.2 with his 15.54 in a three-man heat. But David can claim the single-age American record, creaming the old mark of 17.8. No sign of M35 Don Drummond yet.

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FerringUSA got off the dime today and officially announced its sponsorship of Sprint Force America — four days after its generosity was first disclosed here. The same release is on FerringUSA’s Web site as well. In any case, the drugmaker’s product director said: “Sprint Force America exemplifies a commitment to active aging. We support this team’s dedication to the sport of track and believe that they can inspire others who want to continue doing what they love, regardless of age.”

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Well, charge me with a false start. My earlier post wondering about the identity of a hurdler taking practice starts with the gun at Clermont-Ferrand was a booboo. The gent wasn’t French, but British. Don Drummond, winner of the M35 hurdle race at worlds, sent me two photos that indicate the athlete taking a hurdle amid the M55 final was eventual bronze medalist Joe Appia of Great Britain. “He fits the description with his form and body makeup,” Don writes. “He has the same warmup at the awards ceremony and the same shoes as the runner-up.” Check out the photos below.

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(Updated at 7 p.m. April 18: Check out the latest development at this post.) An eagle-eyed athlete who competed in Clermont-Ferrand checked out the Linda Carty videos and spotted a potential problem: a hurdler practicing starts as a race was being contested nearby. Uh oh. Is this kosher? Check out this clip. I was asked: “Isn’t it illegal to practice with the starter?” The hurdler shown appears to be French M35 silver medalist Gael Ovois — note the yellow/orange and black spikes. Did he have an advantage, given the possibility that others in his age group were chilling (literally) in the call room? Were other hurdlers allowed to warm up alongside races in progress?

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Under World Masters Athletics policies, world records set at WMA world meets are automatically recognized without the hoop-jumping required of athletes in other meets. Well, maybe not. According to a post this week on the WMA Web site, Sandy Pashkin is calling for more confirmation info before certifying records set at the recent Clermont-Ferrand world indoor championships in France. She writes: “Please, will the Meeting Manager for Clermont-Ferrand or the managers of Great Britain, France and Portugal email me with the missing information below? My new email is: spashkin@q.com I will update the records as soon as I receive the information.”

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In July 1995, Dale Lance of Oklahoma set a then M55 world record in the decathlon, scoring 8179 points at the WAVA world championships in Buffalo, New York. The previous record holder, Werner Schallau of Germany, bestowed on Dale the nickname “Superman.” In 2004, the last year he competed, Dale was inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame. Today Superman is engaged in a battle with a terrible nemesis: Parkinson’s disease. Now 70, Dale will undergo what his wife, Ann, calls “deep brain surgery“ in late June and July. He’s welcoming notes of cheer.

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If you live in California, you don’t give earthquakes a second thought. They’re a part of the landscape. But others were a little shaken by recent news reports that scientists predict the near certainty of a Big One in the Golden State by the year 2037. Among those who noticed the story was Dave Ortman of Seattle, a multi-event star with many national titles. In a column he wrote for this blog, Dave suggests we not panic — but to have a plan. Check it out.

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Sean Callahan, editor of Masters Athlete magazine, contributed to my Masters Athlete blog entry today, and it expands on my earlier scoop that FerringUSA, the pharmaceutical company behind Euflexxa (the knee arthritis treatment), is sponsoring athletes from Sprint Force America. But the Masters Athlete entry also indicates that the deal is for one year (with an option for two). And FerringUSA spokesman Alex Drigan nipicked my suggestion that Bruce Jenner was being dropped as the “face of Euflexxa,” saying, “We did decide as a company to look at other opportunities to find new ‘faces.’ Jenner was a great spokesperson for Euflexxa as he totally embodied the spirit of athleticism (at any age). Hence we have decided to look at other sponsorships like Sprint Force America, Geezer Jock of the Year Award and are now looking at another Masters event in another sport.”

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David O’Meara

You’ve heard of road-aholics who commit themselves to running a marathon a week for 52 weeks, or whatever. That’s so 1990s. Meet mile maniac David O’Meara, 45, of Sarasota, Florida. His new idea: running 20 mile races over 20 weeks under 5 minutes each, beginning May 10. Not bad for a reformed tennis bum who never ran track in high school or college. I first learned of Dave’s ambition from Canadian sprinter Jimson Lee and his speedendurance blog. Then I sent Dave some questions. He’s an upfront guy. Enjoy our chat.

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Don Drummond, 38, and David Ashford, 45, will be in adjacent lanes this Sunday when a heat of the men’s 110-meter high hurdles goes off at 1:50 p.m. at the Mt. SAC Relays. For Don, the 42-inch “international” barriers should be little problem. But I’m eager to see how M45 David negotiates the higher sticks. Ashford may be shooting for an unofficial single-age world record in the event. According to Pete Mundle’s Masters Age Records (whose flaws are legion), the best time for a 45-year-old in the 42-inch highs is 15.2 by Valbjorn Thorlaksson of Iceland in May 1980. (But in June 1980, when he was 46, he ran 15.1). The best American time for age 45 is Barry Kline’s 17.8 in 1985. Don doesn’t have a chance at the M38 WR. It’s 13.98 by Spain’s Carlos Sala in 1998. (Or not. Who really knows?)

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