Yank vs. Canucks for IAAF Beijing 800 title? LeBourne’s hands full

Paul and Mike race each other. Doug Smith photo

Paul and Mike push each other. Doug Smith photo

Canadian sources profile Paul Osland, a 1988 Seoul Olympian, and Mike Sherar, also with the University of Toronto Track Club, for the men’s 800 on August 29 at IAAF Beijing worlds. America’s own M55 star Anselm LeBourne will be in the mix — but against two 51-year-old runners. (Paul clocked a 2:04.7 in 2014, and Mike has a 2:01.06.) We also learn: “All Master athletes will be accredited in the same manner as the IAAF athletes. This will entitle them to use the official training sites, admission to the championships competition including seating in the reserved athletes stands during the championships and attend all social functions the IAAF athletes are entitled to.” Nice. But who will prevail in the masters exhibitions? How do the other entrants stack up?

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May 18, 2015

7 Responses

  1. Matt B. - May 18, 2015

    That’s rare: I want to see this video
    M50 800 m Final Radiomäki
    1. 50025 Andre Lafere 1959 Belgium 2.00,99
    2. 50496 Anselm Le Bourne 1959 United States 2.01,40
    3. 50290 Steven Smith 1959 Great Britain & NI 2.04,65
    4. 50382 Andrew Stark 1957 New Zealand 2.04,73

  2. Duncan Greenshields - May 18, 2015

    Here are Sherar and Osland in the 800m final at the WMA Champs in Brazil in 2013. I should add that Osland contracted a bad virus just before this race.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQItlSVoi9E

  3. Matt B. - May 18, 2015

    Single age WR, this past weekend.
    1:52.03. 800m Age 43. WHITEMAN. of course that will go lower this season. Maybe as much as 3 seconds.

  4. Ken Stone - May 18, 2015

    Paul tells me he ran 2:03 at 2014 Budapest indoor worlds. This year he ran a 2:05 to win Canadian Indoor nationals and was supposed to run his first outdoor 800 over the weekend but reinjured a hamstring Thursday. He’s in serious rehab now, he tells me.

  5. Rob Jerome - May 19, 2015

    Just saw on Facebook that Anselm broke the M55 WR in the 800 today at Icahn Stadium here in NYC with a time of 2.02.16. Amazing guy.

  6. Ken Stone - May 19, 2015

    Thanks for heads up, Rob!

  7. david sweeney - May 21, 2015

    David Heath a UK athlete based in France just turned 50, and has run 1;59 and 3;59 this month which should put him in pole position for this M50+ event.

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