Thoughts on 30 years: My funky, infamous masters track coverage began via AOL in February 1996

In September 2017, I blogged about a racist-sounding Facebook post by the president of my masters track club. National-class M60 sprinter Joe Ruggless, who eventually resigned as president of the Southern California Striders, had written: “That piece of shit rich NFL athlete Colin Kaepernick who was raised by white parents has no idea what a real african american has experienced, so for him to disrespect the flag, that my father was seriously wounded for, my uncle, neighbor and friends died for, can go to hell.” Highlighting Joe’s post won me few friends. Said one commenter: “Ken Stone, you are a…

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Toccata Murphy, W50 American record holder in 400, handed 8-month doping ban for DHEA

In July 2022, Toccata Murphy, 53, of Alexis, North Carolina, twice ran 400 meters under 60 seconds — the first American over 50 to do so. She shattered the listed record of 61.02 by Emmanuelle “Emma” McGowan at Málaga worlds in 2018. Her latest record was set at the 2022 Kentucky masters outdoor nationals. But while she was being drug-tested in Lexington, Toccata noted her use of DHEA, which is on the banned list. Her drug test came up negative for any other PEDs, but she’s now accepted an 8-month ban from competition — starting December 9, 2022. (Corrected from…