Five months after the fact, we now have a ruling on the reversal of a DQ in the M45 110 hurdles at the Charlotte masters nationals. The verdict? No verdict. At the moment, the official results still show Dexter McCloud of Georgia as second to Karl Smith’s M45 world record. But eventually, the results will carry an asterisk. The asterisk will stand for “in dispute.” As first American, originally-DQ’d Dexter can claim a gold medal. But Jeff Brower, the next American finisher, gets to keep the one he was awarded that day. In any case, I was sent this official ruling today.

Read the rest of this post »

Merlene Ottey is soooo last year. The new W40 sensation is Irina Khabarova of Russia, who at age 40 clocked 7.24 seconds for 60 meters a week ago at a meet in Yekaterinburg. But wait! We don’t have to debate. In two weeks, they’ll settle the issue of who’s the fastest geezerfem. This report says: “The meeting management has received a confirmation of Merlene Ottey’s participation in the Russian Winter meeting on 28 January in Moscow. . . . One of her main rivals at the meeting will be Russia’s Irina Khabarova who met Ottey on track many times.” The listed W40 indoor world record for 60 is Merlene’s 7.17 from 2003. But Merlene is 46 now. The listed W45 world best is 8.02 by xanax American Phil Raschker. The Moscow meet has a 50-meter dash. So the 60 records have to wait.

Stefan Waltermann’s inspiring story about gaining U.S. citizenship has a final exclamation point: Official approval from USATF Masters Track and Field. On January 12, USA Team Manager Phil Greenwald wrote Stefan: “Given that you have the release from the German Federation, we are now in a position to welcome you to compete for the United States. Welcome to the USATF family and we look forward to having you compete in Riccione.” Go get ’em, Stefan!

Anthony Treacher, a record-holding British M65 sprinter living in Stockholm, will be banned for life from British and international masters competition on January 15 if he doesn’t apologize to the British Masters Athletic Federation. His offense? Being relentless in pursuit of a complaint against the national team manager. After nearly two months of correspondence, including 40 emails from Treacher, I’ve posted this disturbing account of how a tiff with the team manager at the Linz world indoor championships grew into a soap opera involving top leaders of British masters and World Masters Athletics. It’s a textbook case of how not to handle an athlete’s gripe. Treacher (which rhymes with TEACHER) tried to settle the dispute with a handshake. Rebuffed, he gives a lesson in pursuit of justice.

From one of my masters moles: “I don’t know if anyone has let you know yet about more great performances from the amazing Kathy Martin. This was a New York Road Runners meet at the Armory in New York last night (mile, 800, and 2 mile). Kathy broke the world indoor record in the mile by a lot. I seem to remember 5:25 (no automatic timing, but they had multiple watches on Kathy), but don’t quote me on the time because I’m not sure of the exact time and maybe I’m remembering it incorrectly, but it was definitely announced as the world record.” The Armory site doesn’t lists results yet for these races. Neither does the NYRR site. But I’m trying to confirm the exact times.

Read the rest of this post »

Marjorie Milligan Jackson, a W40 national champion in the sprints, has been assistant principal at Foss High School south of Seattle since August 2004. On Jan. 3, tragedy visited her Tacoma school: One student fatally shot another. “My husband,” she recalls, “was traveling to the hospital and listening to NPR when he heard: ‘There has been a shooting at Foss High School in Tacoma, Washington.’ ” The following days were busy for Marjorie as she helped set up counseling for students and faculty. Masters track friends of hers nationwide sent her notes of sympathy and support. And she wanted me to pass along her heartfelt gratitude for their concern.

Read the rest of this post »

The Southern California Striders, a masters club whose annual awards dinner was featured here recently, has yet another claim to fame — its own in-house travel agent. W50 sprinter Jeanne Bowman is putting her skills to work for teammates (and others) by organizing a trip to the Riccione world masters championships in early September. Here are details of the WMA meet tour. Jeanne’s work recalls that of masters track pioneer Helen Pain, the late ex-wife of masters track founder David Pain. Helen, a travel agent, organized historic tours to Europe and Oceania meets in the early 1970s. Meraviglioso for Jeanne if she can save masters some bucks — and terrific logistical headaches.

Read the rest of this post »

On the world athletics scene, statman Peter Matthews is considered a god. His annual compilation of results, records and seasonal lists — Athletics: The International Track and Field Annual — is the Bible for track statisticians. So every year, I ask him to update me on what he considers the best over-35 and over-40 marks. I always hold my breath to see if his list agrees with my own. This year, thank goodness, we’re both on the same page. New in 2006, are Allen Johnson‘s 12.96 for 110 hurdles for M35, Jan Zelezny’s 92.80 javelin for M35 and Edith Masai’s14:33.84 for 5000 at W40. Check, check, check. Got ’em all.

Read the rest of this post »

Stefan Waltermann is an American! Only four months after taking fourth in the M55 pentathlon as a German guest at the Charlotte masters nationals, he took the oath as a U.S. citizen — at the Charlotte federal courthouse. But the story was just beginning. He wanted to compete for America, too. And now he’s just received great news — the German athletic federation has given its approval for him to represent the USA. (All he needs now is a simple OK from USA Team Manager Phil Greenwald, which appears to be assured).

Read the rest of this post »

Contrary to rumors, Pete Taylor will indeed be a meet announcer at the USATF Masters Indoor Championships in Boston in late March. His selection became official this week after a meeting of event organizers. But for reasons not yet made public, Pete will announce only Saturday and Sunday events, he reports. Not Friday. It’s not known who the Friday announcer will be. (Jan. 10 update: Boston informs me that Bob Gamere, a local announcer, former sportscaster, will handle Friday events.). Pete indicates he was a little worried, though, since his role at Boston wasn’t confirmed until this morning. Pete will warm up for Boston by announcing the Hartshorne masters miles January 20 in Ithaca, New York, which will include appearances by recent mile record-setter Alisa Harvey of Virginia and perpetual mile-record threat Tony Young of Washington state. (Jan. 10 update: Tony isn’t coming, due to work obligations at his new employer.)

Read the rest of this post »