Place your bets: List contains IAAF World Masters Athletes of Year
A friend called me the other day, asking: How do they pick the IAAF World Masters Athletes of the Year? You know, the male and female supergeezers who get free tickets to the IAAF Gala in Monaco every November. My answer: Officially, the process involves every WMA region nominating a pair of athletes (with help from NGBs), who go into a hopper for final selection by the WMA Executive Council. Unofficially, it’s a simple of matter of who set the most impressive records at worlds (indoors or out). So if you set a gazillion records early in the season (like Nolan Shaheed) but didn’t snag WR’s in Sacto, fuhgetaboutit. So who really is eligible? Easy. Check out this list of 38 WR setters at worlds, updated only a week ago by records czar Sandy Pashkin.
Nolan Shaheed set a bunch of M60 records last spring, including this 1500 WR at the Striders Meet of Champions, but they don't mean squat to WMA honchos.
Here’s the list as text:
WMA Records set in WMA Championships in Sacramento – Revised 2/8/2011
7TH JULY
M90 80m Hurdles Ralph Maxwell, USA 21.62
W50 Heptathlon Marie Kay, AUS 6202 Points
M90 Decathlon Ralph Maxwell, USA 7069 Points
W70 Heptathlon Erika Sauer, GER 5352 Points
8th July
W90 Hammer Olga Kotelko, CAN 16.71m
W85 Pole Vault Johnye Valien, USA 1.25m
M80 5000m Run Ed Whitlock, CAN 21:32.87
W95 100m Man Kaur, IND 1:01.87
9th July
M80 10,000m Run Ed Whitlock, CAN 42:39.95
W65 300 Hurdles Marge Allison, AUS 54.06
M70 5000m Run Ron Robertson, NZL 18:15.53
11th July
W75 200 Hurdles Barbara Jordan, USA 41.71
M85 200 Hurdles Hugo Delgado, PER 45.13
W50 Weight Throw Oneithea Lewis, USA 18.76
M75 Javelin Vladimir Porokhin, RUS 44.54m
12th July
M65 10k Race Walk Andrew Jamieson, AUS 50:11.38
M70 Javelin Gary Stenlund, USA 52.23m
M80 200m Dash Hiroo Tanaka, JPN 30.78
13th July
M95 Hammer Antonio Fonseca, BRA 22.01m
15th July
M55 1500m Run Keith Bateman, AUS 4:12.35
M70 1500m Run Ron Robertson, NZL 4:52.95
M80 1500m Run Ed Whitlock, CAN 5:48.93
W80 Throws Pentathlon Rachel Hanssens, BEL 4788 Points
16th July
M65 20k Race Walk Andrew Jamieson, AUS 1:42:56.80
W50 20k Race Walk Lynette Ventris, AUS 1:42:19.35
W70 400m Anne Stobaus, AUS 1:16.63
W85 400m Patricia Peterson, USA 2:07.79
M65 Pole Vault John Altendorf, USA 3.84m
17h July
W40 Steeplechase Lisa Ryan, USA 6:49.58
W45 Steeplechase Lisa Valle, USA 6:58.89
M70 Steeplechase Ron Robertson, NZL 7:10.03
W75 4×100 Relay USA 1:10.19
M60 4×100 Relay USA 47.93
W60 4×400 Relay AUS 4:55.53
W65 4×400 Relay AUS 5:16.39
M50 4×400 Relay USA 3:31.76
W45 4×400 Relay AUS 4:08.32 (ties old record)
M45 4×400 Relay USA 3:24.84
Here’s my wish: Give the top awards to two 90-somethings: Olga Kotelko and Ralph Maxwell.
Wouldn’t it be cool to see them standing on stage with the Usain Bolts and Blanka Vlašićs of Daegu worlds?
Who would YOU like to see honored in Monte Carlo?
31 Responses
I’d suggest it is the year for Ed Whitlock or Keith Bateman for the guys, but for women? Man Kaur was a great sight at Sacramento but sadly, who had heard of her before, or may ever do so again? Probably Olga Kotelko. She charmed many of my Brit compatriots in Sacramento for just being so matter of fact about her achievements!
Oh, and I’d really want to see Ken Stone nominated, for the worldwide impact he has had on Masters track and field these last few years.
For the men, Ed Whitlock and Ron Robertson set three records each.
Ralph Maxwell has our vote from the OBX. He missed his third WR by a hair but later got it in Berea.
Ed Whitlock and Olga Kotelka would get my vote. Ed set three WR in SAC- 5k, 10k, 1500m. Olga set “only one” but she should get the nod for her long string of WR over the years. She just gets better and better with age.
Nolan Shaheed and Keith Bateman as shoe ins, w/ Ed Whitlock and Ralph Maxwell also in the running
Not that we are up for a Masters of the Year award, but the M35 4x100m relay team broke the WR (41.89) but is not listed on the report. Team of Thachvu Ho, Antwon Dussett, Lyndell Pittman, and Demitrius Snaer. Congrats to all other records.
My vote goes to Nolan. One must consider his entire year of accomplishments.
Can’t argue against any of these great nominees. I think Thad Wilson who set a WR, had two World championships and dominated his hurdle events completely ought to be considered as well.
Ron Robertson is my favorite.
Ron Robertson is my favorite too. Actually, thanks to Ron Robertson I decided early in life that masters sports and masters athletics was something I definitely would be doing. I was 30. I was a student at the University of Oregon and one afternoon I was at the track watching the masters men run the 3000m steeplechase. Ron Robertson ran a M45-49 new world record that day. The guy looked so fit, he was tanned, did not look a day over 30 and he was 47 and he jumped those steeples like a gazelle. That was my defining moment. Ten years later I watched Ron Robertson run the 3000m steeplechase at the World Masters in Gateshead 1999,he is ten years older. Of course he wins again, and he had only slowed down half a minute from 47 to 57!!
Nice to see a fellow Duck on the boards, Tommy.
I’m with you and Henry and going with a fellow steeplechaser in Ron Robertson (lots of fellows around these parts).
Clearly he’s discovered the fountain of youth.
Yes, Mellow Johnny I am a fellow Duck and that day 1989 at the WAVA World Masters meet in Eugene watching Ron Robertson running that steeple race like a man in his twenties did it for me. As soon as I turned 40 in 1999 I started competing in masters track. I have no reason to stop. I ran the 3000m steeple in junior college a couple of meets. I will be running steeple again, but not before after 60 when they lower the steeples and shortens the race to 2000m.
T.Phillips: I second your choice
I think Khalid Mulazim should also be considered. He broke the world record in the 400m at Nationals pretty much running by himself as well as easily winning the 200m and 400m at Worlds.
Kalembo
I’m kidding, but wonder what happend to him
It’s a bit misleading to say that number of records at the worlds is the main criterion. Wolfgang Ritte won it a couple of years ago, and he does only the pole vault.
Quick Silver
Hong Kong
I would go along with Ed Whitlock for the men. Since the WMA championships in Sacramento Ed has knocked 57 seconds of the 3000M world record. He also has a pending world best in the Marathon set in Rotterdam last spring.
Mike Sullivan had an awesome Indoor and Outdoor season.
Thanks Leigh,
How about some help with my jav….are you still training at MCC, maybe the shot too!! Have a good One ….Sully
What about Mr. Gault World Records in the 100 and 200!!!!
A TODOS= TO ALL: Nominate Ken Stone and I think everybody would agree with that selection
I disagree with Panama Kid.
If nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve. (But thanks for the kind thought!)
Neni Lewis.
Maxwell and Kotelko get my vote. If I can emulate them I’ll be competing for another 50 yrs!! Hooray!!!
There are so many greats is the US but I’m of the impression that Nolan Shaheed (male) and Phil Raschker (female) deserve more than a mention.
Nolan, yes. Phil, no. No disrepect to PHil, but she did not have a year that merits a nomination. I’d like to see nominees based soley on performance not past reputation.
Johnnye Valien! 2 WR and 3 AR in Sacramento!!
My mother 95 sprinted 200M also and she has a record for that event too but it has not been mentioned in the list. She should also be included in the list of 90+ ladies to stand on stage with Usain Bolts.
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