WMA distances self from IAAF’s stupid edict on starting age
Back in mid-August, around the time of the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, the IAAF Congress adopted a strange rule for masters nonstadia events (mainly road running) — that the starting age for masters is 40. This was news to World Masters Athletics, which changed the opening men’s age group from 40 to 35 about six years ago and has always allowed women to begin masters competition at age 35. So lots of masters runners got hot and bothered, worrying about WMA’s age groups. Now WMA has issued an official response: The IAAF can go screw itself. Actually, WMA President Stan Perkins is a lot more diplomatic. Here’s the letter dated Sept. 10, 2009, that Stan wrote to WMA affiliates.
In case the link goes away or changes, here’s the text:
LETTER FROM WMA COUNCIL REGARDING AGE CHANGE BY IAAF
WMA Affiliates and Regions:
You may be aware that at the IAAF Congress held in Berlin this August, a decision was made to
change Rule 141 of the IAAF Rules. The changed wording reads: ‘Masters Men and Women: Any athlete who has reached his/her 35th birthday for stadia events
and 40th birthday for out of stadia events’.
Some concern has been expressed that this decision will have an impact upon WMA age groups and events, however please note that this is not correct. The decision taken in Berlin relates to IAAF matters and does not change the WMA Rules.
WMA, it Regions and Affiliates will continue to organise and conduct its competition and activities in accordance with its’ Constitution (item 2.1) and Rules of Competition (Rule 141), namely for men and women who have attained the age of 35.
The change in the IAAF wording will only impact those athletes who wish to compete in an IAAF
out of stadia event in that the minimum age in future will be 40 as opposed to the present minimum age that is 35.It is important that you confirm to your athletes, officials and administrators that WMA sanctioned events and competitions will continue to provide events for both men and women aged not less than 35 as at the first day of competition.
Put simply, there has been no change to WMA age groups.
Should you still have concerns please contact the WMA Secretary, Winston Thomas at:
Winston.thomas1@virgin.net.Yours truly,
Stan Perkins
WMA President
Also noteworthy:
How did I learn about Stan’s letter? It was posted in the News section of the Eurovets Web site.
As of this writing, the WMA Web site doesn’t have a thing to say on the issue.
Who’s minding the store?
But here’s a really crazy thought: If the IAAF intends to hold masters nonstadia events, as Stan’s letter suggests, then isn’t that a direct threat to WMA nonstadia events?
This could get interesting.
6 Responses
My interpretation is slightly different. To me, the IAAF is simply recognizing that sprinters have a longer “shelf life” than what used to be the norm.
Just last week, I watched the Zurich Grand-Prix meet and in the FINALS of the 100 was Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie who is forty, Chandra Sturrup who is 37. Not to mention Allen Johnson, who is 38 in the men’s hurdles.
But, I don’t view this as a threat to WMA nonstadia events simply because athletes of that caliber will not compete in WMA events anyway.
Speaking of M35 elites, Allen Johnson ran the 110s in 13.47 today in Shanghai:
http://www.shggp.com/results/re0260040.html
His season best is 13.43!
http://www.usatf.org/statistics/topMarks/2009/outdoorTF/men.asp
How many other 38-year-old hurdlers have lost only a half-second off the all-time PRs?
I’m a bit confused by Dexter’s reply. I don’t think the IAAF is saying anything about sprinters. It was the non-stadia events (ie road running, walking, cross-country) that were the subject of their decision. The competitors in those events (not sprints etc) will, according the the IAAF, have to wait until 40 again to be called “Masters”. Nothing whatsoever has altered for track and field. Great that there are loads of top class athletes now over 35, competing in Berlin recently, etc. However, unless they want to run and walk on the roads, or do XC, no one in the IAAF has made any decision to alter things for them if they decide, also or instead, to compete in WMA events.
IMHO Ken has done us a favor with this item. My own national body hasn’t told the athletes yet, and has been persisting for weeks with a completely incorrect website entry that makes it appear that the IAAf decision affected all Masters events. However, it wasn’t changed when the error was pointed out….
Off the topic at hand but correcting Dexter, from what I can find, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie will turn 34 in January. But don’t miss the exploits of hurdler Danny McFarlane, who turns 38 in February and is about a half a second off his PR in the long hurdles. Its not exactly Merlene Ottey territory, but still remarkable.
I totally agree with the IAAF masters 40+ rule for non-stadia events.
Many of the top road runners in the world are 35+ including world Marathon record holder Haile Gebrselassie . Most marathons in the world have never accepted the Master 35+ age and continued to recognize masters as 40+. That include major marathons in New York, Berlin, London, Vancouver, Boston, Toronto, Ottawa, etc.
Except for the odd WMA road race, I cannot find a single road race that actually recognizes masters as 35+.
The IAAF has simply responded to the wishes of the road running community that did not accept masters as 35+.
If sport governing bodies do not listen to the runners that they claim to represent then what is the point of making rules for road running that few road races wish to comply with.
The IAAF and its members branches sanctions hundreds if not thousands of road running and cross country events that attract masters runners. The official master age in these events is now 40+. That is fact. The WMA has no say in IAAF sanctioned road races.
What road running events does the WMA actually sanction or organize that comply with WMA rules. Is there a list?
A few years ago the WMA cancelled it world master non-stadia championships. Why is that? Looking at the WMA website the only road race distance that the WMA seems to recognize is the marathon as there are no race records for any other distance.
Who actually governs and monitors performances of masters runners for 5K, 8K, 10K, 20K and Half Marathon events? It is not the WMA.
From my perspective the WMA is primarily a MAsters Track & FIeld organization, If the WMA did accept the master 40+ age for non-stadia events, I feel that it would have little impact on the organization as they appear to do very little to recognize masters road running.
As far as Track & Fields is concerned I do applaud the WMA for the great work that they have done.
Please correct me if I am wrong but for road running and cross country the WMA appears to do very little.
Let’s talk, to me is what to tell on this question.
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