March 2019

General March 27, 2019

M55 hurdler Kerry Sloan admits raping underage girl; 2 other victims emerge

Kerry Sloan, a world-class masters hurdler, faces a minimum of 10 years in prison after cutting a plea deal in his underage sex case, according to the feds in Oklahoma. Here’s how a TV station reported the news: TULSA, Oklahoma — A private track coach and retired U.S. Army sergeant first class from Killeen said in a plea agreement he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl during a trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to meet with college coaches, the Department of Justice said in a press release. Kerry Sloan, 56, pleaded guilty Tuesday to transporting a minor with intent to engage in…

Records March 25, 2019

Earl ‘The Great’ Fee steals thunder from Torun worlds with M90 WRs at 400, 800 in Iowa

We interrupt Torun coverage (elsewhere) to bring you this important announcement: Earl Fee is back! In the record books. A day after turning 90, The Great One set two M90 indoor world records at a meet in Grinnell, Iowa. Five years ago, the Canadian legend set an M85 indoor 800 WR at Budapest worlds. So this was no surprise. But why isn’t he in Poland? He says he missed the entry deadline. At a USATF Iowa meet over the weekend, he burned a 400 in 1:30.76, obliterating the listed WR of M 90 1:46.78 by barrel-chested Ugo Sansonetti of Italy…

Linda and David Pain enjoyed his 90th birthday party in 2012 at the San Diego church where he'll be remembered on April 6.

Obituaries March 17, 2019

Celebration of Life for David Pain set for April 6 at San Diego church he attended

Friends and family of David Pain, the Columbus of masters track, will gather at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at Faith Presbyterian Church near his San Diego home for a Celebration of Life. On Sunday, his family-written obituary appeared in The San Diego Union-Tribune. Read it here. Among many other things, we learn that David “started a lawn-cutting business and worked full time as a gardener throughout high school. His love of gardening continued into his 80s with a plot filled with vegetables as well as many flower varieties, including prize-worthy Epiphyllums. During his senior year, he became a U.S….

General March 13, 2019

61 USATF entrants will split $33,000 in Toruń world meet travel and lodging grants

Rex Harvey just capped his career. Even with his elite and masters record decathlon records, our national masters chair can point to a milestone in the masters movement — at least in the United States. More than 60 Americans will get financial help to compete at Toruń indoor worlds, and likely will earn prize money as well. This is the geezertrack equivalent of Nicolaus Copernicus (touted by Toruń as their most famous son). Here’s the announcement Wednesday from Sandy Triolo, USATF MTF Communications chair: 84 USATF Masters Athletes applied for the W#1 Torun Program! 61 are currently eligible and one…

Athlete of the Week March 8, 2019

Neringa Jakstiene nets USATF Athlete of the Week after 4 WRs at indoor nationals

As tradition holds, USATF named the star of masters nationals as Athlete of the Week So that means Neringa Jakstiene of Memphis is the choice after shattering four W55 world records at Winston-Salem nationals. I’m still stunned. (I asked for her contact info, and she wrote me. I sent her some Qs. Stay tuned.) But she didn’t win AOW in a walk. She went up against Johnny Gregorek, whose runner-up to the new indoor mile WR was the second-fastest indoor mile in U.S. history (3:49.98 at the Boston University Lehane Mile to narrowly miss Bernard Lagat’s AR of 3:49.89.) Gregorek’s…

Records March 4, 2019

Soft relay WRs highlighted at Winston-Salem nationals as 5s become record-eligible

The asterisk tells quite a story. In USATF’s list of world age-group records set at Winston-Salem nationals, the * follows 13 WRs. It notes: “Relays include 5-year age group World and American records for the first time due to new WMA and USATF MTF rules.” So the Potomac Valley TC’s M45 4×800 mark of 12:02.12 may not stand for long (compare it to the listed M50 WR of 8:32.95). Same for the club’s M55 4×800 WR of 12:57.06 (dwarfed by the listed M60 WR of 9:50.90). Or a couple 4x400s by Philadelphia Masters (M75 in 8:54.00 and W45 in 5:28.31.)…

Records March 1, 2019

Newbie W55 Neringa Jakstiene claims 3 world records, plus an AR, at Winston-Salem

Neringa Jakstiene of Memphis via Lithiuania (in 1994) won two W50 golds (hep and triple jump) and a silver (80 hurdles) at Malaga worlds last year, so it was no surprise that she’d excel as a W55 at Winston-Salem nationals. But three world records in one day? Thus she’s my pick for star of Day 1. See results here. USATF did a good roundup of top marks, including Irene Obera’s not unexpected W85 world record for 400 meters. But Neringa’s marks really blew me away, including 4,894 in the pent, which crushed the listed WR of 4,502 by our ultralegend,…