Shuttle hurdle relays: Virgin territory for masters
Some of my greatest track moments were anchoring the shuttle low hurdle relay for Valencia High School in the 1969 and 1970 seasons. I didn’t even mind running AGAINST the hurdles! Those were the days! But masters don’t run shuttles. (I’ve seen only one reference to such a race in 10 years of looking.) Against this backdrop steps in M45 hurdler Jeff Davison of Southern California.
This week he brought to our attention a meet planned for April in Arizona (before it gets too hot) that will showcase shuttle hurdle relays for masters.
Jeff writes:
Hi All Masters High Hurdlers,
From: Jeff Davison
Thank you everyone for your enthusiasm! This will be a rare opportunity for all the masters high hurdlers to participate in a shuttle hurdle relay. We have hurdlers from Arizona, California, Texas, Illinois, and other states already showing a large interest in participating. All masters hurdlers are welcome to participate.
Thank you to the Arizona Flames (masters) Track Club and James Smith. The Masters Shuttle Hurdles will happen in 2006.
Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona (Mesa, AZ)
on April 22, 2006. Meet starts at 5 PM.
http://members.cox.net/azmasterstrack
http://www.azflames.com
http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/services/athletics/track/facilities.html
Shuttle hurdles will consist of the standard masters spacing & heights, and two lanes per relay team. Starting blocks can be used. Timing will be automatic. Sorry — only a final time (no splits).
Lights will be available.
Since this is part of a masters meet, other masters events will be available.
(The prior date discussed was not available – hence the April 22, 2006 date is
correct).
Any questions? Please contact myself or James Smith.
More later . . . and happy hurdling!
Me again:
If Jeff and Jim can bring this off, it will be quite a coup. Like relays in the upper age groups at nationals, it’s often rare to bring enough people together to have an event. I’m not aware of any records for masters shuttle hurdles — but this should be an event due record consideration. The Pan Pacific Masters Games, as I mentioned, scheduled a shuttle hurdle relay event three years ago — but I have no idea if anyone showed up for it.
It’s possible the Aussies (who are track crazy and will try anything for a giggle) have contested a masters shuttle hurdles, but I’ll need to check this out as well.
It could be that the Arizona event is historic and pioneering.
I hope they can lure enough timber toppers to establish a record.
2 Responses
What an awesome photo of the shuttle relay running against the hurdle. We lived in naivety in the late 60’s. That photo alone would be cause for a lawsuit in todays world. The “want to” of our youth defied all reason. What a memoir of “against all odds”! I am hoping to team up with some other 50-54’s to form a shuttle team at the Mesa meet but am hoping they set the hurdles up the right way for the shuttle race. I do not think I could survive another crash, especially from the back side of the hurdle, as I have two titanium pins in my lead ankle already!
Hi Jimmy,
There will be two lanes per team, and the
hurdles will be placed correctly.
I haven’t run a shuttle hurdle race since
my soph. year in high school. We didn’t
have enough hurdlers my last two years in
high school .. . nor my one year of college
track.
– Jeff Davison “M45” Bracket
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