Felix Hoppe and partner at Ancona meet.
A rough Google translation of
Alfred Hermes’ German masters site
tells the story of an M85 Eurovets entrant suffering a medical emergency. Here’s all I know: “A week after the end of the European Indoor Championships in Ancona / Ita.
Felix Hoppe (M85, VSV borderland Wegberg) is taken from his family in airport hall in reception. Airport staff had picked him up in a wheelchair from the aircraft. What happened? On the last day of the European Championships should Felix Hoppe run in the German 4x200m relay. A high goals, the squadron had set world record. For Felix, the crowning of the championships after he had already won silver over 60m and bronze in the 200m. When entering two hours before the season start it was Felix Hoppe evil. Summoned paramedics called a doctor who let him deliver due to its condition immediately to the hospital in Ancona. A week study, one week hospitalization, not the Italian language powerful home missed! The only companion, his partner
Ingrid Young. What to do? The horror scene developed ultimately for the better, thanks to the initiative of Ingrid, thanks to the competence of doctors, thanks to the hospitality and cordial helpfulness of the hospital staff.”
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April 15, 2016
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Masters nationals begin three months from today (Thursday). At last, I’m informed, USATF has posted entry information for Grand Rapids. (See it here.) Now the clock is ticking toward June 16 deadline for standard online or paper entry. But I’m still mystified that a solid birth-record database is not in place. We’re told: “USATF also recommends athletes bring a copy of their proof-of-age document to packet pick-up as a back-up measure — a proof-of-age document is required prior to receiving competitor packets.” Newbies, maybe. But why should entrants (like me) who have been to nationals for decades have to carry proof of age? In any case, we can now expect to see the Status of Entries page fill out. As of Thursday, only two athletes are shown as entered.
April 14, 2016
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Maryvonne Icarre wins 400 in WR.
work on mastersrankings.com keeps getting more amazing, especially now that he has some help. He’s
posted Eurovets indoor championships results and writes: “Even though this meet and several other national and regional championships (Germany, Canada, Belgium, UK, US, Portugal, Baltic and others) have been inserted, we are still compiling 2015 – 2016 World and WMA regional Indoor rankings. A huge thank you to everyone who sent us meet results. Rankings lists will be complete quicker in years to come. Please help us complete these quicker by
sending us results and putting potential
sponsors in touch with us so we can hire more staff to keep up with the workload.”
Close race in M60 60, won by Harri Huotari of Finland. Photos by Tom Phillips
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April 13, 2016
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Julie Donnelly put Allen back on track, literally.
After several email exchanges with M45 WR man
Allen Woodard, I was still curious about the injury that forced him to quit track despite
such great potential. His latest response is gut-wrenching but hopeful. Allen writes: “When I was young, my goal was to be an Olympian. I had the goods, but unfortunately a strange sciatic injury cut my dreams short. I woke up one morning with a pain that started in my groin area. I had groin issues before. No big deal, right? Wrong! This was no ordinary groin pull. I did the usual stuff when I pulled groins in the past. But nothing seemed to help. The pain just kept getting worst. The more I tried to run, the more the pain intensified. Then the pain started to move into my hips and glutes. … I went to several different specialists. I was told I had arthritis, possibly needed back surgery and all kinds of things.”
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April 12, 2016
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Allen has the M45 world 400 record to himself.
Like many in our sport,
Allen Woodward regrets never tapping his youthful potential. At
Ranger College about 1990, he ran a 200 in 20.5 and 400 in 45.8 before being injured. He left the sport, he tells me. “That was at age 20-21. Needless to say, I left a lot on the table. That’s what brings me back to the sport. Trying to fill the void.” He’s done so big time over the past year, lowering or equaling the M45 WR in the 400 three times. And he’s far from done. In a quickie Q&A, Allen graciously shares details of his 49.12 at age 47 over the weekend.
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April 11, 2016
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A year ago, when Allen Woodard became the oldest man to run sub-50 in the 400 with his 49.69 at age 46, he talked about going sub-49. Over the weekend, he nearly did. At the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Allen (now 47) clocked 49.12 against the kiddies. (See results here.) A couple weeks ago, he tied his M45 WR with a 49.69 at a Rice meet in his hometown of Houston. Stay tuned for more details.
Allen kneels beside results sign of his 49.12 WR. M45 sprinters bow to him.
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April 10, 2016
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Two-time Olympian Shaun Bownes of South Africa brought down the M45 world record in the 110 hurdles last weekend, clocking an amazing 14.38 at the Gauteng North Masters Championships at Pilditch Stadium, Pretoria, say local reports. The listed WR is 14.41 by Jamaica’s Karl Smith at 2006 Charlotte nationals. (Willie Gault has a wind-legal 14.41 that wasn’t ratified.) A Facebook post added: “Shaun will attempt this once again this coming Saturday 9th April at the Central Gauteng Masters Championships, at Germiston Stadium.” I haven’t seen results of either meet yet, however. Age-Graded, Shaun’s mark is worth an open 13.07.
Shaun runs 39-inch hurdles. His PR at 42-inch hurdles is 13.26 in July 2001.
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April 9, 2016
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You know adult age-group sports have arrived when The New York Times spends 6,000 words dissecting who got W40 first place at the Ironman Canada triathlon. A modern-day Rosie Ruiz was involved, stealing first place from a Carlsbad, California, woman — Susanne Davis. In last weekend’s Carlsbad 5000, Susanne ran 19:41. The key clue for me: “In several email exchanges, on the telephone, and in a brief conversation at the front door of her house in Squamish, [Julie] Miller declined to be interviewed for this article, saying that she would derive no benefit from trying to explain how she completed the races in the times she claimed. Her critics would find a way to rebut her story no matter what, she said. At one point she promised to provide evidence that she had completed one of the suspect races, but never followed through with the complete information.” Great to see the geezers taken seriously by the Gray Lady.
Susanne Davis, rightful W40 winner of Ironman Canada, tells her story to NYT.
April 8, 2016
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George Banker, master writer
involved in D.C.-area running and race organization for many years, has shared a profile he wrote of Virginia neighbor
Alisa Harvey. It reminds me of the incredible work
Louise Mead Tricard did in her histories of American women’s track. (She wrote two books, with long transcripts of major stars.) George’s story runs close to 5,800 words, so I won’t post it all here.
(Just read the PDF). My favorite first-person section: “I confess that I am a bit embarrassed when I line up with women that are less than half my age. I privately vowed that I would stop racing against collegiate athletes once I turned 50, but I broke that vow this past indoor season. I have finally come to the realization that it is all about performance. If my competition is 19 to 22 years of age then so be it. Most of the women just look at me in astonishment. I am sure that it is pretty sobering to line-up to race with a woman that is probably older than your mother. I think most of the young runners are cued in by their coaches who know me from back-in-the-day.”
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April 7, 2016
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Here’s grant application form (PDF)
USATF Masters Track & Field on Tuesday rolled out a plan it hopes will grow USA’s medal count at
Perth worlds. Called the Executive Committee Travel Assistance Reimbursement Program, it aims to spend up to $5,000 on “travel grants to USATF MTF athletes likely to win medals who otherwise would not participate in the meet. The awards are to be made in a competitive process, with decisions made by the MTF Chair
[Gary Snyder] and Team Manager [probably
Phil Greenwald]. Strong consideration will be given to athletes who may win multiple medals. The minimum amount will be $1,000 and will be given to an equal number of male and female athletes. All assistance will be in the form of a reimbursement after confirmation of participation in the 2016 WMA Championships and on condition that the athlete does not fail a drug test in 2016. In case of a drug suspension after reimbursement of expense return of funds will be a condition of reinstatement.”
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April 6, 2016
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