Pasadena tidbit: Another masters documentary in the making

Meet director Christel Donley with son. She lives in Colorado and comes out every year for this meet.

At the Pasadena Senior Games, a young man named Eric Goldfarb was interviewing entrants and using some fancy video gear to shoot events. He focused especially on M85 sprinter Don “Doc” Cheek. Eric says he’s been working on the doc for three years. It will include folks in other sports, including a lady boxer. Saturday’s meet also was notable for the use of a swimmer-style starting gun. It made a beep instead of a bang. Meet organizers said they chose this style of gun because it made less noise. They’ve had issues with neighbors complaining about gunshot noise, so this was a compromise. I was told that any records set were eligible with the beep-gun, since it was tied to an autotiming system and underwent the zero control test. In any case, here’s my photo gallery, which includes shots of high jump, discus, sprints and meet director Christel Donley and her son, Nils. They did a great job, as always.

Don Cheek, running the 50, was followed around by video cameras.

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June 7, 2015

5 Responses

  1. Rita Hanscom - June 8, 2015

    This meet is perpetually the friendliest place on earth. Christel sets the tone and the resulting events are run with efficiency and kindness. What other meet hands out free bottled water and fresh cut pears and oranges to everyone? Thank you Christel, for a fun day with a fine bunch of athletes, family, friends, and volunteers. We are so lucky to have you in our sport.
    (Ken, that’s an awesome photo of Don. Well done!)

  2. Christel Donley - June 8, 2015

    Thanks, OBF!
    We are still driving home – with a very good feeling!
    Our crew that helps to put on this meet,
    Is: just wonderful – in the real sense of the word!
    Working with my own son: a dream come true!

  3. James Chinn - June 8, 2015

    Don is incredible!

  4. Doug Smith - June 8, 2015

    I’ve admired Don since I first met him at a Masters’ T&F meet more than 30 years ago. Don is an inspiration to me, as well as to others, of that I am certain. He is one fine example of a man, on and off the track. D. Smith (USA)

  5. Liz Palmer - June 9, 2015

    Thank you Christel, all the officials, and the tireless volunteers for making this meet fun for all of us.

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