August 2018

Rants August 29, 2018

Wonder of wonders: WMA wallops Malaga LOC for not having Wi-Fi at stadiums

Until Tuesday, you could count on World Masters Athletics to sing its own version of “Home on the Range” — where never is heard a discouraging word. Now, for the first time, our governing body is showing fangs. With the blessing of lame-duck Prez Stan Perkins, the WMA homepage is criticizing the host of a world meet before it even starts. WMA roared: “It has now been confirmed that there will be no wi-fi coverage available for the athletes, officials or anyone else attending the various athletics stadiums and venues in the upcoming WMA Track and Field Athletics Championships in…

Results from the six-national masters meet in Croatia show Jarmila's monster mark with the 500-gram stick.

Records August 28, 2018

Czech Republic’s Jarmila Klimešova claims W70 javelin world record on eve of Malaga worlds

A couple months before the 2015 Lyon masters world championships, Carol Frost of Nebraska set a W70 world record in the 500-gram javelin. Saturday in Croatia — about two weeks before she competes in Malaga worlds — Jarmila Klimešova of the Czech Republic improved Carol’s record by almost exactly five feet. Jarmila threw 29.32 meters (96-2) at a six-nation masters meet in the Croatian town of Čakovec. Carol’s listed WR was 27.78 (91-1 3/4). So how did Carol do at Lyon? She took gold provigil with a 25.58 (83-11 1/4). Thus I’ll go out on a limb to predict Jarmila…

Australia's Michele Hossack (left) won the W55 80-meter hurdles in 14.03.

Records August 27, 2018

Ian Richards sets 2 walk WRs at British nationals; Peters, Saunders-Mullins sweep sprints

With 700 Brits entered at Malaga worlds, it’s worth noting how they fared at their masters nationals over the weekend. (See results here.) The top performers were both in their 65s or 70s, including Ian Richards, who claimed W70 world records in the 3000 and 5000 race walks. On Saturday, Ian clocked 15:07.43 for 3K. On a rainy Sunday, he strolled 25:48.50 for 5K. The listed WRs are countryman Arthur Thomson’s 15:15.24 and 26:01.52 from 2006. My favorite Olympic shrink doctor — Steve Peters — swept the M65 sprints, going 12.56, 26.22 and 62.59 (on the same day as the…

General August 26, 2018

Book review: Pete Magill’s ‘SpeedRunner: 4 Weeks to Your Fastest Leg Speed in Any Sport’

Pete Magill is such a buzz-kill. Our 5K Legend friend’s latest book, “SpeedRunner: 4 Weeks to Your Fastest Leg Speed in Any Sport,” warns against alcohol (it “damages the cells that produce testosterone and inhibits recovery and muscle adaptations”). He notes studies saying Kinesio Tape “was no better than sham taping/placebo.” He says xanax ice baths after workouts reduce long-term gains in muscle and strength. (And don’t get him started on chiropractors. He quotes one critic as saying: “If [spinal manipulative therapy] works, it shouldn’t be taking over a century to prove it.”) So what if I don’t drink, can’t…

Records August 22, 2018

Dwain Chambers-anchored Brit 4×1 relay claims WR from Willie Gault’s M40 team

Results haven’t been posted (headed here eventually or on the Powers of 10 page), but Darren Scott’s latest Masters prednisone Grand Prix meet Sunday at London’s Lee Valley track apparently saw a world record in the M40 4×100 — anchored by world champion Dwain Chambers. The reported time of 42.17 by Jason “Juggler” Carty, Dominic Jon, Mensah Elliott and Dwain nips the listed WR of 42.20 by the American team of Frank Strong, Cornell Stephenson, Kettrell Berry and Willie Gault in 2004. Dwain isn’t listed in the stromectol Malaga entries. At least he doesn’t have to worry about being drug-tested…

Toni_Bernadó is shown in his last of five Olympic marathons — at 2012 London Games.

Records August 22, 2018

M50 Antoni Bernadó quietly crushes 3000 WR with oldest sub-8:40 in Spain

Antoni “Toni” Bernadó Planas — an Andorran legend and reportedly the only man to run in five Olympic marathons (1996-2012) — has blasted the listed M50 WR for 3,000 meters, according to IAAF. Eleven years after clocking a PR 8:03.69 in 2007, he ran a stunning 8:37.94 at age 51. The mark came July 14 at Granollers, stromectol Spain. The listed WR is 8:41.2 by France’s Christian Geffrey in 2007. His IAAF bio site shows a 3000 progression that jumps from 2011 to 2018. So apparently he’s been busy at other distances. On the Age-Graded Tables, his 8:37 is worth…

International August 20, 2018

Declarations at Malaga worlds are dicey — USA team manager issues reminder

Phil Greenwald, aka USA Masters Team Manager for Life, has posted a reminder on Facebook that all Malaga-goers need to heed: “Note the declaration requirements: By 8 pm for events up to 3 pm (the next day) and by noon for later events (the same day).” So this isn’t your usual masters nationals an-hour-before-the-running-event check-in routine. Email has gone to Americans, but furriners deserve a heads up, too. Meanwhile, excitement is building for WMA worlds, with national records falling just three weeks before the meet begins Sept. 4. Darren Scott posted about fellow Brit: “Congratulations to Jon Tilt who has…

Rants August 15, 2018

Usatfmasters.org — our official portal — being redesigned with WordPress modernity

Jeff Brower, our USATF masters webmaster and records czar, is working hard behind the scenes to freshen up our official website. It hasn’t been publicly unveiled (until now), but its WordPress theme (aka design) is adapted by masters media maestro (aka MMM) Sandy Lee Triolo “in collaboration with Jovette Jolicoeur,” says the site, which can be seen here. The old design — full of ancient HTML affectations and overly busy graphically — doesn’t do justice to our hip vibe. WordPress also allows Jeff (and anyone else with the password) to easily update a page. The old site required coding chops….

Joy Upshaw, a longtime friend, is as playful after a race as she is fierce during one.

General August 13, 2018

PressPatron is my promise to dig deeper, faster into masters track worldwide

For 22 years, I’ve showcased and watch-dogged adult age-group track and field – in America and around the world. Y’all have motivated my passion to cover this niche, often poorly covered elsewhere. As you’ve likely noticed, I recently added a “Become a supporter” button to every page. It’s also within the blue banner at the top of the page. If you click either, you’ll discover my new funding campaign to support the growth of this site. As a semi-retiree, I have self-funded this site. With your support, I’d like to take mblog to the next level. Thankfully, my needs are…

If Karla keeps up the super sprinting at Malaga, she'll be a WMA Athlete of the Year contender

Records August 12, 2018

O Karla, Karla, Karla! Del Grande claims third W65 WR in 100 at NACAC exhibition

After setting four world records in a couple weeks, what does W65 Karla del Grande do to relax? On Saturday, she jumped into a masters exhibition 100 and lowered her own WR anew. Competing at the NACAC Senior (Kiddie) Championships in Toronto, Karla rode a legal wind to a sizzling 13.91 clocking for third (behind a W40 and W45). Minutes later, M50 Chris Warburton won the men’s race in 11.72 (thanks to an illegal wind of 3 mps.) Also contested were men’s and women’s 800s. And in the open women’s 100, W35 Tahesia Harrigan-Scott of British Virgin Islands clocked a…