Yup, that was our M45 hurdles recordman Tom Gilliard
My pouty post on the PTFA, in which I referred to the anonymous emailer as an entity, did the job. I got the sender to fess up. And I was right. It was indeed M45 American recordholder Tom Gilliard of Georgia. He wrote me yesterday: “I am doing well, but I no longer run. My feet gave out on me at the 1997 Masters Outdoor Nationals. I haven’t run since then. It hurts when I try jogging on a trampoline. My mind and heart still want the thrill and fun I enjoyed in running, but my feet have come up with their own agenda. I do moderate swimming for physical activity now.”
Tom still follows masters track, though, especially his event — the short hurdles.
Tom writes: “I have heard that Karl Smith is a very good hurdler. I heard he broke the M45 world record in the rain. That means there is a lot of fire power left in his legs. I, also, heard that Karl is not an American citizen. So (my) American M45 record may still be standing. (It’s still listed, yup.)
I thought a guy named Dexter McCloud was going to get the American M45 Hurdle record in 2006 but I have not seen anything in writing that says he got it. The one person who has the American and world M45 hurdle record in his back pocket, barring injury, is a guy named David Ashford who is currently in the M40 hurdles.
“I guess by now you know, I am the same Tom Gilliard who set an American masters hurdle record and Thomas Gilliard, the idea man behind the (PTFA) program. I saw your blog. (smile) Thanks for the coverage.
“My objective for (PTFA) is to have the public accept it for the merit it possess. I am not trying to sell me. (PTFA) is about corralling all of those wonderful track and field athletes that have completed high school and or college and, who do not have world-class talents. It is about giving these people an opportunity to continue their track and field activities while assimilating into adulthood and their community.
“(PTFA) must be self-supportive in order for it to meet its’ future goals of paying winning teams and their winning members prize money. But, without an adequate accumulation of registered (PTFA) teams, the program will never fly.
“(PTFA) is about elevating American interest in the sport of track and field. And the only way it knows how to do this, is to get more people involved in the sport. And the only way it can get more people involved, is to eventually start paying the athletes a little something for their efforts.
“Thank you, Ken Stone, for your outstanding efforts to promote Masters Track and Field. It has been because of your efforts and that of the National Masters Track and Field News that has provided me with the impulses to visualize a method on how to enhance the sport of track and field.
“Best wishes and happy holidays,
Thomas Gilliard”
And a great Turkey Day to you, Tom.
Sorry about the bum feet. We miss you on the track.
3 Responses
I’m all for getting more people, especially adults, involved in track and field. But I don’t see that creating another T&F organization is the way to do it. I am dismayed to think that the founders of PFTA believe that USATF Masters and Senior Games seniors are all world class athletes and that, as such, local, regional and national meets are not for people of average ability. I’ll admit that I have no hope of scoring points at a National Masters meet but that didn’t stop me from entering. I treasure every opportunity to compete and despite being trounced by Bill Collins, I still treasure the feeling of being in a 200m heat with “Superman.” But other than Nationals, I don’t feel I’m completely out of my league.
There are plenty of opportunities to develop more interest in adult T&F within the existing framewortk rather than dilute it further with a “professional” T&F association. If I understand correctly, you propose paying mediocre athletes “little something for their efforts.” Unbelievable!
The people who deserve more than a little something for their efforts are the extraordinary men and women who must travel all over the USA and the world, at their own expense, to defend national and world titles, and to prove to the world that the word ATHLETE is not just for those under 30 years of age.
We need more people like Tom promoting track & field. I must say that if it was not for Tom, I would not be running at this stage of the game. After finishing up a post Collegiate Track Career, I did not think that there was anything else out there that would spark my interest in Track and Field. I was so excited to chase a m45 hurdler up and down the track that it motivated me to get in shape and listen to what he had to say. Tom, enlightened me on Masters Track and stated that you can use this as a transition until you hit the m40 mark. I must agree that most of our funds are exhausted with travel and entering into meets across the World, so it does not leave much left for other associations. Why not listen to the concept and see how it may work. I here post Collegiate all the time asking how they can stay involved in the sport and having a monetory incentive would be great. They are doing it in distance running and it is working successfully. Tom, I will email you my information and I know that you have been attempting to get this off of the grounds for years. I am living in Houston, Tx now, but look forward to talking to you soon. By the way records are there to be broken and your American Record is in jeapordy. Dexter McCloud was hurt last year, so I am sad to say that this will be the last year that you will be able to hold on to it. I have two more years and the m40 60 meter HH and 400IH world record will be broken.
Don Drummond
Dec. 31, 2006
Hi there,
This is Thomas of (PTFA). I do agree with the statement above:
“The people who deserve more than a little something for their efforts are the extraordinary men and women who must travel all over the USA and the world, at their own expense, to defend national and world titles, and to prove to the world that the word ATHLETE is not just for those under 30 years of age.”
Track and field is an expensive sport for those who participate without any sponsors and this is why the sport’s attendance rolls are not as high as we would like. I have felt the pinch too. Some compensation would be nice but we all know, that is not how the system works.
(PTFA) is being established to off set travel expense problems. Working people are busy people. They have responsibilities and obligations that can restrict them from traveling too far away to some track meet, especially if they have a family. Our program, plans to provide weekly meets within heavly populated areas. The meets will be similar to alcomers meets but, respectfully speaking, without the kids. The chump change we plan to eventually pay out is a way to motivate a few more would be participants.
Hi Don!
It was lucky for us that we had the Atlanta Track Club’s Alcomers Meets here in the A.T.L. to sharpen our skills. I always thought of myslef as this old guy (me) trying to stay ahead of this young guy (you). I knew it was only a matter of time when you would run past me like I was walking! You are doing a great job now. Keep up the great work and listen to what your body has to say. Thank you for your kind words.
Thomas
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