Records

At 90, Earl Fee thinks he'll remain the oldest man to beat his age in the 400-meter dash.

Records July 31, 2019

Sprinters in 90s honor David Pain’s birthday with world records at 400 meters

Wednesday would have been David Pain’s 97th birthday, and I’m marking the occasion by posting video of his funeral I shot April 6, 2019, at Faith Presbyterian Church in San Diego. Earl Fee, Diane Hoffman and Diane Friedman didn’t attend — but their latest ninety-something world record performances in the 400-meter dash are a virtual memorial to the founder of masters track. At Toronto WMA regionals July 19, Earl notched his 60th world age-group record, clocking 89.15 in the 400 at age 90 — and becoming the oldest to beat his age over the one-lap race. “In all probability I…

M35 Patrick Jackson hands off to twin brother and former NFL player Fred Jackson in a 4x100 relay.

Records July 21, 2019

Photo galleries galore (mine and others) from Ames nationals, Toronto WMA regionals

WMA regionals wrapped up Sunday in Toronto, with world record efforts by W70 hammer specialist Myrle Mensey (in that event and the throws pent) and about-to-be-sworn-in-as-American Neringa Jakstiene (upping her own pentathlon WR from Ames). But Southern California’s Gunnar Linde was wrongly credited with an M90 WR in the 2K steeple. He ran 15:47.32 in the Ontario heat and humidity but scorched a 14:40.5 in mid-June in Los Angeles. The meet invited athletes from 31 North American, Central American and Caribbean nations — but the U.S. and Canada dominated, with many meet records falling on the Mondo tracks where 2020…

Records July 14, 2019

Neringa Jakstiene (after latest WR at Ames) on verge of becoming American citizen

Despite a recent illness (with a high temp of 102), W55 Neringa Jakstiene of Memphis sizzled at Ames nationals, smashing yet another Phil Raschker world record. This time, it was the outdoor pentathlon with a score of 4594 points. Phil set the listed WR at 2002 Orono nationals with 4511. (This brings her recent WR total to 10.) A key to Neringa’s latest record was her 12.86 in the 80-meter hurdles, which would have been an American record but for a 2.2 mps aiding wind. (2.0 is the maximum for a single-event record but not for a combined-events record.) But…

Records July 11, 2019

USATF defends Roy Englert’s M95 world record 5000 at Ames, labels Italian an age fraud

I was at 2009 Oshkosh nationals when Frank Levine set his M95 world record at 5000 meters. That weekend, the Norristown, Pennsylvania, gent also ran the 400, 800 and 1500. He and fellow 95-year-old Max Springer sparred at the shorter races, with Max winning both. But Frank had his age group 15 and 5K all to himself. And his 5K set the standard for 10 years. Now we’re having another moment. At Thursday’s Day 1 of USATF masters nationals in Ames, Iowa, Roy Englert of northern Virginia ran/walked the 5000 in a sensational 42:30.23. He was interviewed on local TV…

Records June 24, 2019

WRs fall to M90 Earl Fee (800), W55 Anne Gilshinan (1500 again) and W50 Irie Hill (pole vault)

In his new biography, Earl Fee said his goal, after turning 90, was to raise his world records count to 60. He had 56 age-group WRs when he wrote that. Don’t look now, but he’s at 59. After setting M90 indoor WRs in March in the 400 and 800, he crushed the listed M90 WR in the outdoor 800 on Sunday at the site of 2019 WMA regionals and 2020 worlds. On Facebook, Earl said: “Had some good fortune today at the Ontario Masters Championships at Varsity Stadium today, lowering the outdoor world record 800m in age group 90-94 by…

Records June 12, 2019

M90 Gunnar Linde laps 2K steeple world record; W40, W65 and M85 decathlon ARs set in Wisconsin

How fast was 90-year-old Gunnar Linde when he ran the five-lap steeplechase over the weekend in Los Angeles? If he’d been racing listed M90 record-holder Charles Ross, Gunnar would have lapped him. That’s how I grok Gunnar’s 14:40.54 2K steeple WR Sunday at West Los Angeles College. Charles holds the listed WR of 18:54.10. Special thanks to three M60 gents — Brian Nelson, Dennis Wilson and meet director Andy Hecker — who finished the race to make sure no technical rules glitches kept Gunnar from going in the WMA record books. (BTW, he ran 30-inch barriers despite the fact standard…

Records June 8, 2019

Anne Gilshinan adds another W55 WR notch to her belt — 800 meters in milestone 2:19.63

A month ago, Ireland’s Anne Gilshinan set a W55 world record in the 1500, clocking 4:45.65 at an Irish Milers meet in Greystones, Ireland. Don’t look now, but now the 800 WR is toast. Anne ran 2:19.63 to become the oldest sub-2:20 woman as she crushed the listed WR of 2:21.98 by Australia’s Jeanette Flynn at Brisbane in 2007. (See complete results here.) Anne posted to Facebook: What a fantastic day at the Irish Milers Meet at Le Cheile Leixlip today. I set a new World Record in the 800m, W55 category, in 2.19.63. Thanks in particular to Susan and…

Records June 6, 2019

Italy’s Davide Raineri runs 4:13.96 mile, claims M45 world record at Rome Diamond League

In May 2018, Davide Raineri of Italy turned 45 and began dismantling national age-group records, running 800 in 1:57.76, 1500 in 3:54.68 and 3000 in 8:27.50. But he didn’t reach my radar until David Westenberg sent me a heads up Thursday night. Competing in one of the masters events at the Rome Diamond League meet, Davide ran the mile in 4:13.96. That’s not the fastest M45 mile on record, but he’ll likely get credit for a WMA world record, since the listed best is 4:16.09 by American Tony Young (also 46) in 2008. (Tony ran 4:13.25 a year later on…

Brad Barton eyes the finish and M50 world record at Nashville mile in one of many sensational Dave Albo photos

Records June 5, 2019

How Brad Barton battled back from years of injuries to take down Nolan Shaheed mile WR

I spent nearly an hour on the phone with Brad Barton on Saturday, the day after his mind-blowing 4:19.59 M50 mile at Nashville — taking a huge chunk out of Nolan Shaheed’s 2001 record of 4:25.04. My first question for Brad: Where have you been for five years? (I had forgotten about his pair of 1500 American records in 2016, including one at the Olympic Trials masters exhibition.) But seared in memory were his incredible 2013 and 2014 seasons, where Brad dominated distances from 1500 to 3K steeplechase, setting a slew of records — duly noted in my new story…

Records June 3, 2019

Brad Barton BLASTS M50 world mile record at Nashville; M75 dec, W75 hep WRs crushed

Three monster world records were set over the weekend, with celebrations (and stories) promising to continue for days. The first came Friday night when our friend Brad Barton of Utah battled fellow M50 Shane Healy of Ireland in the mile at the legendary-for-records Music City Distance Carnival at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. (Anthony Whiteman ran his M40 3:58.79 mile WR there in 2012, you’ll recall.) Unlock your full potential with modafinil – the secret weapon for enhanced focus, productivity, and mental clarity. Shane stopped the clock at 4:22.96 to crush Nolan Shaheed’s listed outdoor world record of 4:25.04 set at…