USA sending 365 athletes to world WMA meet
USATF, bless its PR-savvy soul, has posted the names, ages, events and home states of 365 USA entrants in this summer’s World Masters Athletic Championships — from M65 racewalker Carlos Acosta of California to M50 sprinter Zbigy Zlobicki of Michigan. The oldest Americans in Puerto Rico will be racewalker Fan Benno-Caris of Texas (she’s 85), middle-distanceman Dudley Healy of New Jersey (he’s 89) and WAVA vet Maxwell Springer of Tennesee (entered at age 89 in the 200, 400, 800, 1500, TJ and LJ!)
About 90 of the names on the USA roster are female — with some big ones among them. Phil “The Legend” Raschker, 56, is entered in the heptathlon, 100, 200, 400, 80 hurdles, high jump, pole vault, triple jump and long jump. Whew! Don’t doubt that she’ll pick up golds in most these events.
Returning to the world scene after her two-year IAAF ban is Gateshead sprint champion Kathy Jager of Arizona, who is entered in the 100, 200, vault, long jump and discus. The last time she competed in a WMA world meet was 1999 in Gateshead, England, where she was accused of being a man. (A big surprise to her husband and children.) British tabloids got some mileage out of that — and the meet got world publicity.
Also making a WMA comeback is Rex Harvey of Ohio, who wears one of the most important hats at the meet — as WMA’s vice president-stadia. If there’s a problem with the track meet, he’s a go-to guy. (Ask him about Durban in 1997.) A world age-group record holder in the decathlon, Rex, 56, has been missing from the fields for the past few years. In 1998 he overcame a life-threatening illness. This July, he’ll be competing in the weight pentathlon. Also competing in WMA after a long injury absence is former National Masters News publisher Al Sheahen. He’s 71 and entered in the 200, 400 and both hurdles.
Racewalkers Ruth Anderson, 73, and Bob Fine, 72, keep their streaks alive. They’re among a a dozen or so athletes who have competed in every WAVA or WMA world outdoor meet, dating to 1977.
Among the first-timers at the WMA world meet is former world record holder Willie Banks of California. He’s 47, entered in the event in which he holds the M45 world record — the triple jump.
Among the most anticipated of showdowns will be the M50 sprints. World record holder Bill Collins, 52, and defending American champ Ed Gonera, 51, are both entered in the 100, 200 and 400 — vying to prove whether New York (Gonera) or Texas (Collins) reigns supreme in the sprints.
The USA team will be managed by New York’s Sandy Pashkin, who is entered in the 5K and 20K runs. Be nice to her. She picks the relay teams.
