Who to believe? Results at odds with blog over high jump WR

Flores shows Uruguayan flag after winning M85 high jump.

This drives me nuts, or louco in Portuguese. The delightful blog covering the Porto Alegre meet says: “Washington Flores, 88, broke today (24/10) the world record in the High Jump at the 20th edition of the WMA. Competing in 85-89 years old, Flores jumped 1.26m (4-1 1/2) and stole the record from Finland. Since Flores joined the senior category, the records began to appear. The result achieved today is the result of 26 years of training, since I was a kid and ran through fields, hills and troughs of water, Termas de Arapey, a town 180 kilometers Uruguayana / RS in the upper Uruguay.” But the results posted on the official site read: “1 3976 Flores, Washington M88 Uruguay 1.16m.” The listed WR is 1.22 (4-0) by Austrian Emmerich Zensch in 2005. And what’s with this “stole the record from Finland”? Someone is pulling another’s leg. If we can’t trust official results, we’re doomed.

Here's how the M85 high jump is depicted on the official results page.

Here’s how the M85 high jump is depicted on the official results page.

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October 25, 2013

7 Responses

  1. Peter Taylor - October 26, 2013

    Thanks so much for that, Diane. The note about Karla Del Grande is particularly interesting. The larger point, of course, is that there were probably quite a few more instances of error than you have reported, as you would not be in a position to know about every error in a meet of this size and duration.

    On the good side, many people are apparently not only enjoying the meet but putting up good marks as well. Whether those marks have been accurate is another story.

  2. Peter Taylor - October 26, 2013

    The Val Barnwell story is interesting as well. But after watching a video of the M40 200 final, in which the time shown was faster than the official time, I will simply say that “I do not know.” Others may have more insight, particularly as I have been in Fairfax, Virginia, throughout the meet, not in Brasil/Brazil.

  3. christel donley - October 26, 2013

    This is not about records, but times and distances are HIT AND MISS ( not all of them)
    The numbers on the sheets at the event, differ from the ones posted.
    Wind readings are definately -on and off –
    I can only check my results, the places are correct,
    windreadings in the TJ I had none, some jumpers did.

    And the problems with worldrecords are PROBLEMS, WONDER HOW THEY CAN BE WORKED OUT. Athletes are jubilant – and they should be – only to find out,
    some ore more criterias are missing, besides there were better marks before.

    Just hope all that works out in the end.
    The happiness on the victory stand is heart – warming.
    For 2 weeks, the ladies handing out the awards, are just to be praised, they do their best to pronounce the names correctly, they are just as pleasant as can be. As one said: we know the sound of a lot of anthems by now.

    I am curious how the relay – festival will go tomorrow, lots of excitement and hopes to win the
    BIG ONE.
    And yes, they have medals left……

  4. Susie - October 26, 2013

    So where, exactly, are you finding the results?
    Thanks!

  5. Ken Stone - October 26, 2013

    Men’s results are here:
    https://wma2013.com/results/results_men.htm

    Women’s results are here:
    https://wma2013.com/results/results_women.htm

    But no dates are given for the events, so you have to search the files.

  6. David E. Ortman (M60), Seattle, WA - October 26, 2013

    Saturday Report (see past reports under Flickr blog below). Mens 400m finals got off this morning under cool cloudy skies. Only one heat got rain, but then as the Women 400m started the skies opened, very close lightening flashed and torrential rain came down. It rained most of the afternoon on and off for the 1500m finals as well.

    The finish line clock was not working for the 400m races, although the scoreboard was back up so you could at least see (briefly) the times posted. Early in the meet it was apparent that the finish line clock was not accurate so athletes may have gotten one reading from the finish clock and another from the scoreboard, and who knows perhaps another on the PA results webpage.

    There was also a notice saying that the Xcountry course, half-marathon and marathon courses were NOT going to be remeasured, (it apparently is a bit long) but any record set on the longer course would be counted. Four years or so to plan a WMA and a marathon course could not be certified as accurate?

    Come to think of it, since the paint on the CETE track was put down barely days before the start of the meet, let’s hope that the track has been measured and certified.

    As for Porto Alegre, the main city area and the stadiums used were all very clean, very little litter. Many blooming street trees made for a festive atmosphere.

    Sunday is Relays and Men’s Weight Pent. The weather is suppose to clear. Let’s hope so. The only really hot day (93 degrees) was Sunday’s rest day. Otherwise, Seattle weather.

  7. Oldster - October 30, 2013

    Congratulations to Senior Flores! At 1.16m in the High Jump he’d have taken gold in his age group at the pole vault!!!

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