IAAF President Seb Coe is moving to clean up the world governing body in the wake of the Russian doping scandal and bribery cases. But I didn’t expect the vacuuming to include masters track. But here we go. Longtime IAAF Masters honcho Cesar Moreno Bravo of Mexico (who handed out awards at IAAF Portland and kissed the ladies) apparently is out, replaced by Pierre Weiss of France as chair of the IAAF Masters Commission. (He’s a former triple jumper and IAAF general secretary.) Lately, the commission is known for getting exhibition events into IAAF worlds. So mission accomplished. But what did Cesar do to get fired? Got no clue, but I’ll poke around.

Here’s the formal announcement:

The IAAF is pleased to announce the chairpersons of the new commissions and advisory groups (see list below) which are designed to assist the delivery of a fundamental programme of change to the sport’s global administration.

The membership of the new set of consultative bodies is composed of smaller, more represented groups with increased representation of women, younger age groups, coaches, former athletes and experts from outside athletics.

IAAF President Sebastian Coe commented: “The commission chairs draw upon the vast array of experience and expertise from across the globe, from within and outside the athletics family, and their combined knowledge will be an important resource to build a modern sport which is open to new ideas and is fast and responsive to the challenges which lie ahead.”

The membership of each of the commissions and advisory groups will be announced in the coming days.

Rozle Prezelj (SLO) – Athletes’ Commission
Paul Deighton (GBR) – Audit and Finance Commission
Victor Lopez (PUR) – Coaches’ Commission
Abby Hoffman (CAN) – Competition Commission
Hamad Kalkaba Malboum (CMR) – Development Commission
Prince Albert II (MON) – International Relations Commission
Maria Clarke (NZL) – Legal Commission
Pierre Weiss (FRA) – Masters’ Commission
Harold Adams (RSA) – Medical and Anti-Doping Commission
Carlo Capalbo (ITA) – Road Running Commission
Bernard Amsalem (FRA) – Values Commission
Dahlan Al Hamad (QAT) – Youth Engagement and Social Media Commission
Max Siegel (USA) – Commercial and Marketing Advisory Group
Hansjorg Wirz (SUI) – Competition Calendar Advisory Group
Stephanie Hightower (USA) – Conflict Resolution Advisory Group
Rajne Soderberg (SWE) – One-Day Meetings Advisory Group
Marc Ventouillac (FRA) – Press and Media Operations Advisory Group
Adille Sumariwalla (IND) – Strategic Communications Advisory Group
Sylvia Barlag (NED) – Sustainable Development Advisory Group
Alex Gilady (ISR) – Television and Digital Advisory Group
Libor Varhanik (CZE) – World Athletics Series Renovation Advisory Group

Here’s an IAAF Master Commission report from 2014:

PROGRESS REPORT ON EFFORT TO INCLUDE MASTERS EVENTS IN IAAF COMPETITIONS

For quite some time now discussions have taken place for an approach to be made to the IAAF to consider adding some Masters events into appropriate competitions to publicly promote the ‘athletics family’ concept to the sporting world. Whilst there has been support for this inclusion, actually achieving a positive outcome has been a challenge.

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However recent efforts by Cesar Moreno Bravo, Chairman of the newly formed IAAF Masters Commission, may achieve a welcome outcome. This week advice was received that the Technical Directors for the IAAF World Championships to be held in Beiijing, China in August, 2015 were supportive of the inclusion of 4 events for Masters athletes on one day of the championships. Details of the proposal have yet to be defined but the matter will go before the IAAF Council for approval at its July, 2014 meeting.

Whilst the decision taken to date has yet to be formally approved, WMA is obviously excited at the prospect of being part of the IAAF World Championships, albeit in a small way. When further news of the outcome of the IAAF considerations is received, the decision will be announced on this website.

Best regards, Stan Perkins

(11.06.2014)

Masters marathoners just wanna have fun — even at age 85. I contacted Ed Whitlock after his amazing double WR at Canadian masters nationals, and he graciously explained about that 4×400 relay. But he couldn’t tell me what his split was. “Don’t know,” Ed said. “I’m not aware anyone took it. I am sure it was nothing special; it was shortly after the 1500 and a low-key effort, the team had no real competition and there was no record possibility.” The 1500 was merely the fastest ever run in that age group, indoors or out. And he even thought he’d go faster in the metric mile. But his 15 and 3K records are just the start. Check out my quickie Q&A with The Legend.

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Redefining our notions of running limits, M85 Ed Whitlock has crashed more barriers. Over the weekend, Ed added two world indoor records to his quiver — in the 1500 and 3000. Competing at Canadian masters nationals at the Toronto Track & Field Centre, Ed, who turned 85 a few weeks ago, shattered the 15 WR by going sub-7: 6:38.87, equivalent to an open mark of 3:24.27. The listed indoor WR is 7:18.32 by Sweden’s Holger Joseffson in 2004, and the listed outdoor record is 6:51.32. Ed lowered the listed 3K WR of 15:46.41 by American Hugh Campbell by clocking 13:41.96 — breaking the 15- and 14-minute barriers at once. (The listed outdoor WR is 14:13.4.) Ed’s mark is worth 7:33.32 on the Age-Graded Tables. (The IAAF indoor WR is 7:24.90.) Nationals records fell like flies, too. See complete results. And for fun, Ed dropped down to help an M70 team win the 4×400 relay in 6:02.70. Anybody get the marathon man’s split? For photos, see links on this page.

Call me crazy, or just plain lazy. I took hundreds of pictures of the masters exhibition 800s at IAAF Portland, and I’m letting anyone have them. No charge. These are original high-resolution images of Saturday’s men’s race won by David Wilcock and the women’s race won by Helene Marie Douay. Plus dozens of before and after shots. Normally, I pick out select pics for distribution to athletes and event organizers. This time, I’m cutting out the middlemen and women. Just grab what you want from my G-Drive. All that I ask is that you credit Ken Stone / masterstrack.com if used publicly. See 219 men’s photos here. And see 86 women’s photos here (I was more discriminating). This is my way of thanking the runners for the great show they put on and showing appreciation to USATF and IAAF for letting me wear a red vest and having access to the track perimeter. All shots were taken with a high-end amateur Nikon D300 body and 80-400mm lens, with ISO set at 3200 and shutter speed about 500. Images are a little grainy, but most are in focus. I look forward to seeing these on Facebook — and the WMA site. Bon appetit.

Ireland’s Joe Gough, 63, signed autographs and posed with fans at IAAF Portland worlds Saturday night. He hadn’t won the race. But he won the hearts of nearly 7,000 fans at the Oregon Convention Center after bravely sprinting away from all but Britain’s Dave Wilcock (bib name was wrong) at the bell of the masters men’s 800. Dave eventually reeled Joe in with 10 meters to go, leading to Joe making a spectacular lunge for the finish. His fall on the rough Mondo surface left him bruised and bloody. Joe, the M60 world indoor record holder, had perhaps gone out too slow. (Dave ran an incredible negative split race — a first 400 in about 71, followed by a 65-second final 400.) But Joe was proud of putting on a show at the sport’s highest-profile indoor meet. And thousands of fans stood and cheered the County Kilkenny runner as he and his rivals took a victory lap to conclude the meet’s morning session. Helene Marie Douay of France, by contrast, led from the start to win the W55-plus women’s 800 in 2:37.30, holding off a strong challenge by America’s Lesley Chaplin, less than three-tenths of a second back.

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SoCal Track Club’s Nolan Shaheed, whose 800 seed time of 2:17.5 for IAAF Portland sparked questions, won’t run at worlds after all. Neither will France’s Marc Schmitt or Spain’s Aurora Perez in the W55 women’s race. According to start lists for Saturday’s events at the Oregon Convention Center, Nolan has been replaced in the M60 men’s race by Ukraine’s Oleksandr Lysenko (2:18.44), and Britain’s David Wilcox (2:18.67) will take the place of Marc. Had she not been injured at USATF masters nationals, Australia’s Marie Kay would have moved up into Aurora’s spot, but fellow Aussie Deborah Drennan will run instead. I haven’t heard why Nolan and the others fell out of the deck, but it’s possible Nolan felt he wasn’t in 2:17 shape after running 2:31 at ABQ nationals.

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Remind me in November to nominate Phil Felton for the USATF Masters David Pain Award for Distinguished Service. Phil’s longtime role as volunteer masters coordinator at the Penn Relays alone qualifies him. He’s circulating entry info now, so check out this PDF. Penn has been the scene of too many records to count — in relays and sprints. The 75-and-over race is a highlight at Franklin Field. Not just for friends, but for all fans. Best of luck, everyone.

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This Saturday, a little before 12:30 p.m. Pacific, the masters women’s 800-meter exhibition starts at IAAF indoor worlds at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Fifty minutes later, the men race. I’ll be there. But you should be able to catch the action live at USATF.TV or somesuch. I wrote a story about the meet for the USOC website. And you’ll notice I snuck in references to geezer elites (36-year-old high jumper Ruth Beitia of Spain and 39-year-old sprinter Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis). Sue me.

Roald Bradstock has been a javelin star forever — as an Olympian and masters record holder. But now he’s bringing his day job to the fore — as an artist. In recent weeks, since becoming executive director of Art of the Olympians Organization, he’s been traveling and doing TV interviews. A press release and Roald’s pitch are below, which do a great job of telling his group’s story. I wish I were an Olympian who could draw.

Please share these with your Olympian friends:

Media contact:  
Roald Bradstock:  
r.bradstock@artoftheolympians.org    
 
Athlete Known as “Olympic Picasso” Launches Effort  
to Grow Olympian/Artist Group  
Elite group of athlete/artists aims to double its members  
 

(March 15, 2016) FORT MYERS, Florida — Art of the Olympians Organization (AOTO), an international-based group of elite Olympic athletes-turned-artists, has launched a global membership initiative to double its roster in the next six months. The renowned nonprofit group hopes to grow worldwide to expand its global citizenry programs through Olympian and Paralympian athletics, arts and culture teachings.   
 


”It’s a very ambitious goal,” says AOTO Executive Director Roald Bradstock, an Olympic javelin thrower and artist who recently was interviewed on CNN about his career and his goals for the organization. “Our target is to at least double our current roster of Olympian and Paralympian artists. It took several years to bring together 29 Olympians. We want to get our roster to as close to 60 Olympians if we can. We believe we can reach this goal by getting the word out globally through the traditional media and social media channels.” 
 
Bradstock, a two time British Olympian and former world record holder turned painter is known as “The Olympic Picasso.” This past fall, he was appointed by parent organization, the Al Oerter Foundation (AOF), to lead AOTO’s expansion effort.
  

AOTO was founded in 2006 by Oerter, four-time consecutive Olympic discus champion. The group started with 14 Olympic athletes from seven different countries with 19 Olympic medals among them. Aside from their athletic prowess, they are also champions of the visual arts, excelling in a wide range of mediums including clay, acrylics, oils, watercolors, fabrics and paper. 

Since he’s taken the reins, Bradstock hopes to broaden the organization beyond the visual arts to include Olympians and Paralympians who are accomplished musicians, singers, dancers, actors, poets, authors and much more. 
 
“Our goal is to promote the ideals of work ethic and mind, body and spirit through the arts,” Bradstock said. “Art is more than creating a painting and hanging it on a wall. It’s a way of thinking and living. It’s about connecting, communicating and a way to express who we are. I need everyone out there to help me find these Olympian and Paralympian artists. Call me, text me, send me an email or send a smoke signal to get in touch. We want to create a movement here, and the only way to do that is to get more people involved.”  
 
AOTO has moved away from its original Fort Myers museum and gallery office setting and now features itself and its programs via a virtual and mobile platform. Over the past 10 years, AOTO has had exhibitions at the United Nations and at three
Olympic Games: the 2008 Beijing games, the 2010 Vancouver games and the 2012 London games. 

They’ve also had their artwork shown for a month on the giant screen in Times Square. The group was also the subject of an award-winning documentary, hosted by 1968 Olympic Figure Skating Champion Peggy Fleming, who is also one of AOTO’s artists.   
 


Olympians and Paralympians interested in joining AOTO’s world-wide program efforts are asked to contact the organization via email at info@artoftheolympians.org or contact them at (+1) 770-882-7799 (EST/U.S.A.) 

About Art of The Olympians (AOTO): Art of The Olympians Organization’s programs and platform promote the Olympic ideals and unite the Olympic and Paralympic movement through inclusive educational, cultural and collaborative programs, exhibitions and projects. AOTO is a program run by the Al Oerter Foundation (AOF).    
 

Here’s Roald’s letter dated March 15:

Dear National Olympic and Paralympic Committees.
 
I am the Executive Director of an international organization of Olympian and Paralympian artists called Art of the Olympians (AOTO).  We currently have 29 artists from 12 countries on our roster including two posthumous members:  Al Oerter, four time consecutive Olympic Discus Champion and founder of AOTO and triple Olympic Gold medalist sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner (a.k.a “Flo-Jo”).
 
This month marks AOTOs 10 year anniversary since we held our first exhibition and ran our first program.  To mark this milestone we are launching a global campaign to build awareness and support for our organization and programs and beginning a worldwide search for new artists.  
 
We want to find Olympian and Paralympian artists of all abilities from the professional and professionally trained, award winning full-time painter, to the part-time musician and hobbyist.  

We want to bring together a unique group of athletes that have reached a universally recognized standard of excellence as athletes — becoming Olympians or Paralympians — and who also embrace the arts: painting, sculpture, photography, video, film, singing, dancing, acting, music, poetry, writing, etc.
 
Two weeks ago I was on the BBC and last week I was interviewed on CNN International in studio, here in Atlanta, to talk about AOTO and officially launch this first ever search to find Olympian and Paralympian artists:

We believe there are dozens, maybe even hundreds of athlete artists in the World and we want to find them. Our ultimate goal is to have Olympian and Paralympian artists from every country that competes in the Olympic and Paralympic Games represented in our organization.  But to accomplish this it is going to take a global effort. 
 
It is a great start to have CNN and the BBC help us in our quest.  But now we need your help.  We are contacting all 206 NOC’s and 177 NPC’s to ask for assistance in this historic search.  We are also asking for a show of support for AOTO asking each organization, to help us get the word about AOTO and our search for new artists through each country’s respective network and communication channels: traditional mail, email, national newsletters or magazines.
 
We want to connect as many Olympian and Paralympian artists as we can find and create a truly unique, diverse, inclusive and global organization that can and will promote the Olympic ideals and unite the Olympic and Paralympic movement through physical and virtual exhibitions, educational programs, cultural events and collaborative projects.
 
We believe that Art of the Olympians can help realize Pierre De Coubertin’s and Al Oerter’s collective visions by really embracing the Olympic creed – doing your best, taking part, fighting well and being the best you can be in all aspects of your life.
    
For more information on Art of the Olympians (AOTO) please visit our website at: www.artoftheolympians.org 
 
If you have any information about artists or questions you can contact me directly.
 
I thank you in advance for your help and support in this global effort.  
 
Regards
 
Roald Bradstock
Executive Director
Art of the Olympians
Website: www.artoftheolympians.org 
Email: r.bradstock@artoftheolympians.org
Phone: (+1) 770 882 7799 (USA/EST)
Skype: roald.bradstock

M80 superstar Tony Bowman was on fire over the weekend at British masters nationals, setting a world record in the 60-meter hurdles at 10.86. (The listed WR is American Mel Larsen’s 11.10 from 2005.) Tony also won the 60, 200 and 400, says Athletics Weekly, which added: “In her debut in the age group, Lucy Elliott won the W50 800m, 1500m and 3000m and came close to Clare Elms’ world record in the 1500m. Former British senior international John Watts set a British M80 shot put record of 11.27m (36-11 3/4). While her son Harley was winning the Inter Counties under-13 title, Di Norman won the W40 400m, 800m, long jump and shot titles.” Our fotog friend Tom Phillips shot the meet and also won his first-ever BMAF title at 60 at Lee Valley, defeating former European Cup 200 winner Chris Monk. Good on you, Tom! (Now would someone please post link to results?)