WMA world records still baffle in 2015 update: many marks missing

John’s WR 4:12.33 M45 mile is AWOL from WMA books

WMA this month updated its world record lists, and four Americans are in the mix. But it should be at least eight — with Kathy Bergen’s W75 high jump, Christel Donley’s W80 indoor hurdles, John Trautmann’s M45 indoor mile and several by W80 Irene Obera added. Yanks listed are M45 Allen Woodard (400), M40 Bernard Lagat (a bunch), M55 Anselm LeBourne (1500) and W50 Renee Shepherd (60). I’ve also learned that Kip’s 3:54.91 mile at Millrose had a 1500 split of 3:40.20, beating the listed M40 indoor record of 3:44.12 by Britain’s Anthony Whiteman in 2012. Paperwork is being submitted to USATF, I’m told. Bernard’s 3K split en route to 5K record also is listed by WMA. Several records were news to me, especially Rosalind Tabor’s 6:06.58 mile for W50 set May 4, 2015, in London. (I see no local coverage.) But three recent WRs by Russian Vyacheslav Shabunin are not listed in the June 1 update. So as I’ve said again and again: Don’t trust WMA records.

Here are the 2015 records added as of June 1:

Outdoor 400

M 35 44.54 Christopher Brown BAH 36 30.05.15 Eugene, USA

M 45 49.69 Allen Roy Woodward USA 46 04.04.15 Houston, USA

Outdoor 3000

M 40 8:00.23 Bernard Lagat USA 40 29.05.15 Eugene, USA

Outdoor 5000

M 40 13:14.97 Bernard Lagat USA 40 29.05.15 Eugene, USA

Outdoor weight throw

M 75 20.06 Klaus Albers GER 75 14.04.15 Bremerhaven, GER

Outdoor mile

W 65 6:06.58 Rosalind Tabor GBR 65 04.05.15 London, GBR

Indoor 60

M 35 6.47 Kim Collins SKN 38 17.02.15 LĂłdz, POL

W 50 8.03 Renee Shephard USA 50 08.03.15 New York, USA

Indoor 400

M 50 52.39 Roland Gröger GER 50 01.03.15 Erfurt, GER

Indoor 1500

M 55 4:13.77 Anselm LeBourne USA 55 01.03.15 Boston, USA

M 65 4:43.01 Cees Stolwijk NED 65 14.02.15 Apeldoom, NED

Indoor mile

M 40 3:54.91 Bernard Lagat USA 40 14.02.15 New York, USA

Indoor 3000

M 40 7:37.92 Bernard Lagat USA 40 25.02.15 Metz, FRA

Indoor high jump

M 65 1.68 Dušan Prezelj SLO 66 22.02.15 Instanbul, TUR

Indoor pole vault

M 60 4.16 Wolfgang Ritte GER 62 31.01.15 Ludwigshafen, GER

Indoor long jump

M 50 6.75 Gianni Becatti ITA 51 28.02.15 Ancona, ITA

Indoor triple jump

M 55 13.49 Wolfgang Knabe GER 55 28.02.15 Erfurt, GER

M 75 9.69 Stig Bäcklund FIN 75 08.03.15 Jyväskylä, FIN

M 85 11.80 Leo Saarinen FIN 85 08.03.15 Jyväskylä, FIN

Indoor 4-by-200 relay

M45 1:33.47 Macgee,Minetti,Gardiner,Scott GBR 22.02.15 Birmingham ,GBR

Indoor high jump

W 40 1.94 Venelina Veneva-Mateev BUL 40 15.02.15 Bobrich, BUL

W 75 1.20 Rietje Dijkman NED 75 15.02.15 Apeldoom, NED

Indoor triple jump

W 60 10.07 Janine Kortbeek NED 61 15.02.15 Apeldoom, NED

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June 14, 2015

11 Responses

  1. Peter L. Taylor - June 14, 2015

    Interesting report, Ken. I believe that would be Allen Woodard and Renee Shepherd above (spelling errors). More important, it looks like outdoor marks fared better than those of the indoor variety.

    For example, Allen Woodard’s sensational 49.69 was run at the Victor Lopez Classic in April, but some of our indoor record-breakers in March have not fared so well.

    The great Ty Brown, for example, ran a scorching 9.44 in March at our indoors down in North Carolina (in the 60 hurdles, not the dash), but that didn’t get included in the updated records (he’s in M70).

    The “other Brown” (Dr. Kenton Brown), who flew to an apparent world record for M70 in the 60 dash of 8.18 at indoor nationals, also did not make the cut. The old record still stands.

    Ken, I thought that Willie Gault ran his 21.80 in the 200 (M45) at Cal State-Los Angeles, but I note that the site has now been identified as Philadelphia. Interesting.

    These are my observations after a cursory look at the new list.

  2. Ken Stone - June 14, 2015

    Thanks, Pete. I fixed last names of Renee and Allen in my post. My fault for trusting WMA on spelling! What was I thinking?

  3. Andrew Hecker - June 15, 2015

    Gault was in Los Angeles. http://calstatelaathletics.com/news/2008/4/27/4-26%20tiny%20lister%20classic%20races.aspx?path=motrack

  4. Matt B. - June 15, 2015

    Why has the masters 800 M40, not been updated?
    1:48.05, 7/12/14

  5. ventsi - June 15, 2015

    100m M35 – Kim Collins – 9.96 (last year in London).
    In the text above, Indoor Triple Jump M85 has to be replaced with Indoor Shot Put M85 – 11.80 m.
    It’s good to have Chris Brown (400m M35) finally on the list.
    Amazing records, overall.

  6. Bob Hewitt - June 15, 2015

    The triple jump mark of 11.80m for M85 Leo Saarinen of Finland must be a misprint. If not—I’ll have whatever he has for breakfast!

  7. Mike Sullivan - June 15, 2015

    Shout out to German Roland Groger from Sully in Arizona….Congrats for braking my indoor 400 world record …He ran 52.39 at age 50 indoors ..Hope to get one last shot at the record next winter before I turn 55…Records are made to be broken! Great job Mr. Groger….Wish I was going to worlds to push you to the outdoor world record! 51.39
    Sully …preparing for Nationals…

  8. Christel Donley - June 15, 2015

    Bob, I shook my head in disbelieve: WHAT?..
    The “Fins” like a lot of fish,,, even for breakfast,

    I spend a lot of time in Finland, did/ do not like fish, ergo…

  9. Mike Quispe - June 16, 2015

    Sad, I really was hoping records would get ratified much faster by now. Not holding my breath anymore.

  10. Tom Phillips - June 17, 2015

    Ken, I sent you news of Ros Tabor’s mile WR. You’re right, it got no coverage her in Britain. After all, it was only Masters, and it’s only the youngsters that matter, isn’t it? Well, at least, that’s very definitely how our track and field press see it.

  11. Ken Stone - June 17, 2015

    Thanks for reminder, Tom! Yes, Ros Tabor! I searched for Rosalind but didn’t find her (and of course I forget most names 5 minutes after I type them).

    But I did report the Tabor WR:
    http://masterstrack.com/2015/02/34361/

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