WMA President Cesare Beccalli and other Italian masters officials, perhaps sensing a publicity opportunity by piggybacking a widely seen story, are quoted in a Reuters report as promising that the javelin events at Riccione will be separated from track events. So no geezer-spearing allowed at worlds. But no word about other implements? What an outrage! This year we lost an M70 thrower to an errant discus — and Prez Beccalli doesn’t say a thing about the dangers of disci! Or the hammer or shot. Shouldn’t all these hyperdangerous events be banned to distant fields! And don’t allow spectators either! Fences and screens fail! In fact, ban all throwing events. We’re talking about the health and safety of our parents and grandparents!

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Racewalk legend Don DeNoon, meet director of the 2009 USATF masters outdoor nationals in Florida, replied to my query about whether his meet will be in early August — and thus clash with WMA worlds in Finland and the National Senior Olympics on the Left Coast. Don writes: “The date for the 2009 U.S. National Masters will be scheduled according to the desires of the National Masters Track and Field Committee. It can happen at the NTC any time. Attached is a tentative schedule for 2008. Most of these events include masters athletes.” His sked is below (which includes the regional WMA meet in late August 2008). So I guess the ball’s in USATF Masters Chair Gary Snyder’s court. How about a late-June nationals? If you have a preference, let us (and him) know.

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Stacy Dragila at age 36 is back in rehab mode. She set several W35 world records in the vault this season, but it was cut short by injury. Again. John Schumacher of the Sacramento Bee reports: “The pole-vault pioneer from Auburn remains hopeful she can compete for a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team after undergoing surgery last week in Palo Alto to repair a small tear in her left Achilles’ tendon.” Says Stacy: “Nothing dramatic has happened. I really feel like I could still be in the hunt. I’m not done until I feel in my heart I’m done.” You go, girl.

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GeezerJock magazine is launching its first single-sport title. Called Masters Cycling, it could be the beginning of a media empire. I wrote to GeezerJock editor Sean Callahan and asked if track might be next on his list. Sean replied: “We’re looking into a soccer magazine next, and we see a number of single sport publications in our future. It will take some time, though, but we believe these kinds of publications can be very successful.” This should concern National Masters News. A lot.

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Last August, Darnell Gatling was running in the M45 finals of the Charlotte nationals 400 hurdles when he caught a spike, crashed a hurdle and took a tumble. Yet he still got up and won the race. Yesterday, he had smooth sailing out of lane 8 at the USATF National Club Championships at New York’s Icahn Stadium — and lowered his own American record in the long hurdles to 55.72. The listed AR is the legendary 55.7 hand-time of Jack Greenwood in 1972. Darnell took 14th out of 22 entered yesterday, but was pressed by M40 Getulio “Tony” Echeandia, who ran 56.04 despite a bout of bronchitis (not flu as earlier reported)! Darnell’s next goal: the M45 WR of 55.18 by Germany’s Guido Mueller in 1986.

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Several folks have expressed concern about the 2008 indoor schedule. Turns out their worst fears won’t be realized. The 2008 WMA world indoor championships in Clermont-Ferrand, France, will be March 17-21, 2008. The USATF masters indoor nationals will be March 28-30, 2008, according to the host Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. So it’s still possible to attend both. The news for 2009 is grim, however. The National Senior Olympics will be held August 1-15, 2009, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The WMA world outdoor championships are July 28 to August 8, 2009, in Lahti, Finland. And the 2009 USATF masters nationals in Clermont, Florida? The meet traditionally is held the first week of August.

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Jud: 4-time Olympian

Jud Logan is looking forward to turning 48 on Thursday. That’s strange. You normally go for a figure divisible by 5. Well, Jud is using 48 as a kickoff to a two-year training program that culminates with an M50 world record in the hammer throw. Ah, now you recognize the name. That Jud Logan — four-time Olympian who once said: “I’m going to keep throwing until there are three guys who can keep me off the Olympic team.” Well, he’s changed his mind. He’ll throw even if he can’t make an Olympic team. Over the past week, I’ve exchanged e-mail with Jud — and learned how serious he is about taking down Briton Christopher Black’s 66.92 (219-5) age-group world record set in 2002.

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Oneithea “Neni” Lewis of New York turned 47 in June, but who cares when you’re having fun beating collegiate types? Today at the USATF National Club Championships, Neni won the discus and hammer throw (apparently with the Olympic-weight implements). She scored 20 points for Shore AC, which leads the women’s standings after Day 1. The shot is up tomorrow. On the men’s side, New Jersey’s Anselm LeBourne ran the 800 in 2:01.11. He’s also about 47. At least three masters-age hurdlers are entered in the 400s tomorrow. Lemme know if I’ve missed any other oldsters.

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Meet director Mark Cleary writes that he has a motel lined up for the USATF West Regional Masters Championships on July 21-22 at Occidental College near Los Angeles. Mark writes: “The Marriott Courtyard in Pasadena (is) about 10 minutes drive from Occidental. . . .They have offered us a $99 per night rate and will provide shuttle service to and from Occidental on Saturday and Sunday. The number to reach them is (800) 321-2211. Mention the West Region Masters Champs to get the discount.”

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Remember last winter’s USATF convention in Indy — and how nobody bid to host our masters indoor nationals in 2009? Well, we have a bidder. A source tells me that the Potomac Valley Track Club in the Washington, D.C., area has submitted a bid to host the meet at the six-lane track inside the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex in Landover, Maryland. “Their