Robert Thomas, who set an M40 American indoor 400 record this season, anchored a fab 4×4 at Penn over the weekend. This Flocast video shows what strength and turnover Robert has. Results showed Robert’s Southwest Sprinters TC finished in 3:21.12, a yard behind the listed M40 world record of 3:20.83. The other team members were Tony Echeandia, Khalid Mulazim and David Jones. The world record was set at Penn in 2001 by Sal Allah, Kevin Morning, Ed Gonera and Ray Blackwell. Thanks, Joy Upshaw-Margerum, for alerting me to the video link. What a weekend!

Derrick Atkins, 23, ran the 100 in 9.98 Saturday at the Cal Collegiate Challenge in Berkeley — the first sub-10 of the season worldwide. But little-noticed in second place was 36-year-old Jeff Laynes of Oakland. With a 2.0 mps wind (the maximum allowable for a legal time), Jeff clocked 10.16 — which now ranks tied for eighth on the IAAF seasonal world list! Jeff also ran the deuce in 21.20. Noteworthy in the 110 hurdles was former Cal hurdler Peter Grimes, now 48ish, who ran the 39-inch barriers in a legal 15.37. Peter is the father of Cal sophomore Tifani Grimes, who also ran the hurdles over the weekend. Like father, like daughter.

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My bad. I neglected to mention the masters women’s events at Penn. Fortunately, Julie Hayden of Athena Track Club checked in with some anecdotes and links from Philly. Julie writes: “Just wanted to update you with my take on the ladies’ results from Penn, as the way that the results are printed it is not always easy to pick out ladies teams, especially since in the 4×4 the runners have not been listed.”

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Germany’s Thomas Zacharias just adds to his legend — and M60 world outdoor HJ record. On Thursday he cleared 1.80 meters (5-10 3/4) at his usual venue: Arrecife, Spain. On a Track & Field News message board, we also learn that he’s on a German message board debating the merits of the straddle technique vs. the flop. Also, video is available of his 1.78 jump of several weeks ago.

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Two years ago, Tony Echeandia was the silver medalist in the M40 400 hurdles at the San Sebastian world masters championships. Yesterday, he lined up against kids half his age in the Olympic Development 400 hurdles at the Penn Relays. He took ninth. But so what. He ran 56.93 for probably the fastest time of the year in his age group. He ran 54.34 last year. But so what. It’s early in the season. And the weather sucked. Meanwhile, the older guys got some ink, with M70 Dick Camp quoted in the Philly Inquirer along with several other masters sprinters. Here are links to other masters results: the M75-plus 100 and the M40 4×4 relay. Way to go, gents!

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Willie Gault posted more incredible numbers yesterday at the Steve Scott Invitational at UC Irvine in Orange County, California. Last year, as a new M45, Willie ran 10.72 and 21.91 (with only the 100 gaining USATF and WMA record recognition). Willie has been busy this year, getting ready to make movies or promoting medical devices. Guess he has to run to stay in shape for all this.

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Results posted for the masters mile at yesterday’s Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, are intriguing. Rod DeHaven, a 2000 Sydney Olympian in the marathon, took first in a wonderful 4:19.03. It’s the fastest M40 outdoor mile of the year. But the field of five was missing masters great John Hinton. Wassup? I hope Mark Cleary, organizer of this masters invitational event, checks in to explain John’s absence. Hope John is OK. Meanwhile, congrats to Rod (who turned 40 last September) for a remarkable effort. Welcome to masters. Here’s Rod’s old USATF biography. Oh, and BTW, 39-year-old Jeff Hartwig broke the meet record in the vault, clearing 19-0 3/4 Ho hum.

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Silly me. Yesterday I reported that Bill Collins had anchored Houston Elite to an M50 national “club” record in the 4×100 relay at Penn. Wrong. The official USATF record page is in error. Today I learned that Bill’s team fell short of the winning time in the 2005 edition of this race. In fact, the 2007 time (46.49) would have gotten fourth in 2005! So what gives? Forgive me (again) for this rant: But Sandy Pashkin, USATF Masters Records chair, is operating outside the reality-based world.

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