Pete Mulholland of Running Fitness magazine in the UK reports on Days 2 and 3 (Thursday and Friday) at the European Veterans Indoor Athletics Championships in Ancona. An interesting revelation in Pete’s report: “There appears to be a high content of drug testing at the games but the
main talking point is those who are selected for a test have to be in
possession of their passport. No passport could result in a failed test!” Worth noting for Lahti-goers.

Ancona Day 2

Two races, two world records — not a bad day for W75 Emma Mazzenga of host country Italy.

Just after 1700 hours local time, Mazzena sped to a clear cut 60m win with 10.58sec, strides clear of any opposition, to carve 0.28s from the mark of Asta Larson (USA) set in the year 2000.

Two hours later, Mazzeni turned to the 400m and came h ome in 84.89sec to blast away the current mark of 1:41.15 set by Louise Adams, that had survived a touch over 12 years.

Germany’s Lydia Ritter achieved a barrier-breaking time of 79.18sec for W70 WR over two laps to eradicate the mark of 81.63sec previously owned by Canada’s Jean Horne
It was announced that the great Guido Muller had laid claim to yet another WR after he majestically front run by some distance a superb M70 400m time of 60.08sec having clocked a speedy winning 8.30sec over 60m earlier that evening.

However, the organisers were unaware that he had already ducked below the 60-second barrier with his 59.92sec in the German Championships on March 1.

Britain’s Hellen Godsell has hit a purple patch of late with British records and championships coming her way, but even she was surprised in the manner of her W55 60m win in a WR time of 8.46sec, and her brother, Bob Minting, who maintains the Brirish Masters Track and Field statistics, will have no problems in accepting the amendment to his lists.

Admitting to being nervous prior to the race, Godsell literally blasted out of the blocks to come home with a winning margin of almost half-a-second and to delete the existing world mark of 8.53sec held by Germany’s Ingrid Meier.

After time out assisting the British Cycling team to a record haul of Olympic gold medals, sprinter supreme Steve Peters is back in action, his recent British Championship winning treble being his first outing since the WMA Riccione Championships of 2007.

Not in quite the form he would like to be, Peters admitted, “It’s good to be back but I’m not in shape for this class of competition.”

First up for Peters was the 60m and he lost out on a close call to Gojko Bandevic (7.54s to 7.56s) of Montenegro, the sole representative and, it is understood, something of a hero in that country.

After the race, Peters admitted, “I false started there, and went about 10 metres before I realised there wasn’t going to be a recall. I’m glad that Gojko won it as I would have felt guilty,” added Peters. Two hours later, Peters was back to his days of ‘cruise control’ as he took the 400m in a casual looking 53.63 secs.

Of interest to athletics buffs was the appearance of 88-year-old Otto Missoni who hurled the javelin (outdoors I hasten to add) out to 17.70m (58-1). Now a highly regarded fashion designer in his native Italy, Missoni had placed sixth in the 1948 Olympic 400m hurdles final in London, England.

There appears to be a high content of drug testing at the games but the main talking point is those who are selected for a test have to be in possession of their passport. No passport could result in a failed test!

STOP PRESS (March 27): Another high jump WR as M75 Henry Andersen of Denmark clears 1.41m (4-7 1/2) which like the M70 WR earlier is a 1cm increase on the old record.

Ancona Day 3

The multi-eventers took centre stage today with stunning performances by Christine Muller and Dr. Rolf Geese who set world records for the W50 and M65 pentathlon respectively.

For good measure, within Muller’s record 4616 points total was an awsome opening discipline which saw the Swiss earn a massive 1181 points with a 60mH WR of 9.23sec to improve on her recent mark of 9.36sec set in Austria on March 1.

Spare a thought for runner-up, Maria Rosa Escriband of Spain whose 4310 points total was also within the former record of 4302 points

One of the greatest masters’ all-around athletes is arguably Germany’s Dr. Geese and if confirmation is needed proof was given by his performance here. Opening with a massive 1197 points for a 60mH skimmed in 9.47sec to improve on the WMA listed 9.49sec but adrift of the pending 9.43sec set by Sweden’s Jan Soderstrom in January of this year.

One who went for a world record was W40 pole vaulter, a former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Irie Hill.

Entering the competition with an opening clearance of 3.20m (10-6) and by then the only survivor, Irie then first time cleared 3.40m (11-1 3/4) before attacking what would be a WR 3.61m (11-10): but it was not to be.

I was disappointed with that,” the German-born British athlete admitted. “I cleared 3.65m (11-11 3/4) outdoors in Australia just last weekend.”

Two shot records in events held in a giant marquee adjacent to the track and of course with a marked lack of spectators, more’s the pity.

First up was M80 Wilhelm Modersohn of Germany who went out to 12.53 (41-1 1/2), more than half-a-metre better than the existing record of 12.02m (39-5 1/4). Following that, there was M60 Patrick Chala of France, hurling out to 16.80m (55-1 1/2), a clear improvement on his own world mark of 16.61m (54-6).

M90 Emil Pauwels from Belgium has been keeping himself busy with gold medals in 3000m, high jump and 5km cross-country plus silver over 400m and bronze over 60m. It certainly beats sitting in the lounge at some rest home, which is often the life for someone as old as Emil.

While writing these notes on the Saturday, two further world records have appeared before my eyes. Firstly there was a W45 200m semi final win by France’s Violetta Lapierre in 25.69sec, an impressive improvement on the old mark of 25.85sec set by Australia’s Marie Kay at last year’s WMA Championships. I’m drooling in anticipation for the final to be held at 19.35 European time.

Spain’s Jorge Paez led the M60 long jump with his opening effort of 5.73m (18-9 3/4) and with no jumps resulting from his third and fourth attempts, he looked likely to settle for this. However, come the fifth effort the sand was marked at 5.87m (19-3 1/4) to add 6cm to Stig Backland’s 1999 mark.