February’s edition of National Masters News, speeding to mailboxes around the country, is the first under new management. Lots of changes. New headline font (Optima Extra Black.) New body type (bigger, easier to read). Much better photography (action shots instead of: “Hey, everyone, line up and smile!”) And best of all — news that’s news to me! (Best examples: 1970s running icon Jan Merrill, now 50, is making a mile comeback! M50 sprint god Kevin Morning saying, “Some of my fastest marks have come when I did not stretch.”) But amid the move from Eugene to the Sacramento area, the paper had some hiccups.

Read the rest of this post »

M45 Jeff Davison isn’t an elite hurdler. Breaking 20 seconds in the 110s is par for his course. But he’s done something rarely accomplished in masters history — persuaded USATF and meet brass to introduce a new event at nationals. In this case, it’s the shuttle hurdles relay. Jeff writes: “The 2007 USATF National Masters Outdoor Championships at the University of Maine . . . has added an exhibition event, the Shuttle Hurdle Relay. This will be the first time (this event) has been offered at the National Masters Championships. The event is limited to persons that are already entered into the 2007 National Masters Outdoor Championships hurdle event and the championship prior to the start of the meet.”

Read the rest of this post »

Julie Hayden of the Athena Track Club didn’t run in her team’s victory in the 4×4 at the Millrose Games last Friday. But she reports: “Even though as the alternate I didn’t get to run, it was a wonderful opportunity and experience. I sincerely hope that the women’s masters relay remains part of the Millrose program. Hopefully more women masters teams across the whole county will become more aware of the opportunity to participate in the event and spend time getting teams together for it. I can’t think of many more better chances for us to demonstrate that we can perform well and entertain.” She also gives details of the event that we haven’t heard until now — and shared another report posted online.

Read the rest of this post »

Becca Gillespy reports on the T&FN message board that Pat Manson, who turns 40 in November, jumped 5.50 (just over 18 feet) at the Air Force meet Friday. That’s 22 straight years over 18. By this time next year, we should have two 40-year-olds vaulting 18 regularly. (Jeff Hartwig being the other, of course.)

Racing against the kids yesterday at the KBC meet in Gent, Belgium, 46-year-old Merlene Ottey lowered her own recent W45 world record for 60 meters twice — first to 7.40 in a heat and then to 7.36 in the final. The IAAF reports: “Merlene . . . came in fourth in 7.36, commenting after the race, ‘Age doesn’t count. I’m always as hungry and as motivated as I’ve ever been. I set goals and I try to achieve them. That is what sports is all about. When the major championships arrive, I want to be in. Never count me out.’ ” We won’t, Merlene! We promise! Honest! But 7.36 is insane. On the Age-Graded Tables, it’s equivalent to an open time of 6.64. Insane. (And here’s a photo of her before the race. Doesn’t look a day past 26!)

Read the rest of this post »

Annette Koop’s German masters track site has the strangest report. Posts are still being translated, but here’s what I’m told: “The president of the German track & field association stated in front of the German Parliament that in masters track and field 80 percent of all doping tests came in positive. He concluded that 80 percent of all masters are doped. (Since) the DLV has about 900,000 athletes — with 45 percent (or 405,000) being masters — a cool 324,000 are doped older ladies and gentlemen in Germany alone. Naturally, (this) was followed was pure outrage and a lively discussion.” Now I even find it hard to believe that 400,000 Germans do masters track. More likely, the vast majority are road racers. But still, what a hoot! Stay tuned.

Henry Rono won’t race Nolan Shaheed at the Carlsbad 5000 on April 1, as I suggested earlier (because Nolan has a gig in Africa). But now Henry has been asked to run a masters mile in San Francisco the following weekend. According to the letsrun.com message board thread devoted to Henry’s goal of an M55 masters mile record (now 62 pages!), Mike Fanelli on Jan. 26 posted this note: “The nature of my message is to pesonally invite you to compete the following week (Saturday, April 7th) in San Francisco in a one mile track race. I am co-organizing the masters mile in conjunction with the Johnny Mathis Track & Field Invitational at San Francisco State University.” Henry is down to just under 170 pounds, and continues his hill runs (shown here.)

Read the rest of this post »

Sean Callahan, the editor-founder of GeezerJock, has started a blog. And his post for today is titled: “All the geezerjocks in training are safe and sound.” Sean writes: “Thanks for asking, everyone — our geezerjocks in training from The Villages, Fla., all emerged unscathed from last week’s tornado that struck central Florida.” Great to see Sean join the blogosphere — and post on a day sacred to all denizens of Chicagoland — Super Sunday. His Bears are going for da trophy down in Miami.

Read the rest of this post »

A central Florida retirement community called The Villages was the scene of horrific destruction this weekend after a tornado ripped through the area and damaged or destroyed 1,200 homes. Fortunately, none of its residents was among the 20-plus killed in the storm. The Villages also is a major advertiser for GeezerJock magazine. It’s the title sponsor of the GeezerJock in Training program. So I’m hoping that the potential loss of revenue from The Villages can be offset by ads in other areas.

Read the rest of this post »

Steve Nearman of The Washington Times — the only big-city sportswriter who can segue from Lagat vs. Webb at Millrose to masters track without breaking stride — writes: “Joe Burno, president of Maryland Masters Track Club and a competitive 50-year-old miler, sent out a dire message last week: ‘As of this morning only 15 athletes had entered the PG Sportsplex Masters Indoor Championships scheduled for February 18th. My entry is in. If you are even thinking of entering, send in your entry now, today, ASAP!!!!”

Read the rest of this post »