USATF suffers a non-senior moment in News & Notes
In the course of reporting the latest Kip Janvrin deca win at Drake, USATF reports: ” ‘I just don’t see myself competing next year,’ said (39-year-old) Janvrin, who is the oldest active U.S. competitor in the decathlon.” Oldest active American decathlete? Um, that must come as a surprise to 64-year-old Phil Byrne of Massachusetts. Or 66-year-old Emil Pawlik of Mississippi. Or Bill modafinil online Daprano, who was 76 when he did the deca at Puerto Rico worlds in 2003. Or Denver Smith, who was 77 when he set a U.S. age-group deca record at Puerto Rico.
And I may be missing some other folks.
Anyone know for sure America’s oldest active deca dude?
I’ll forward the definitive answer to the good folks at USATF.
3 Responses
Got this note from Tom Surber, author of the USATF press release:
“Always great to hear from you and thanks for the info. I believe the context was oldest U.S. decathlete amongst current elite athletes. With Kip winning Drake, it seems he still must be considered an elite athlete. Warmest regards always.”
Of course, I knew that. But did all the readers of the news release? In this instance, accuracy in language matters.
Phil Byrne checked in with this reply to a query:
“Thanks for including me in that august group, but I’m afraid age and injuries have caught up with me, and I’m retired for now at least. I’ve also moved from Massachusetts to Florida. Guess that sounds like a retiree, too. Phil Shipp continues to compete in the M65 age group, Bill Jancnovich in M70 ,and Fred Hrsimaki in M75. There are probably others.”
Ken
As a matter of interest, Tony Rawlinson (GBR) is 88 this year and still a regular competitor in the decathlon. Mind you he often finds the 1500m a distance too far
Pete
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