Christel Donley

USATF field referee checks out shot put ring at American River College.

General July 17, 2024

Update: Olympic Trials starter is at Sacto nationals, with sloping shot put sector fixed just in time

I’m back! Not only blogging (for the first time in a year), but also competing at USATF masters nationals. We’re in Sacramento — at American River College, not Sac State like 2010 nationals and 2011 worlds. I couldn’t resist entering my umpteenth nationals at age 70. Today was arrival day for many. After 2 p.m., bib numbers (with names on one of a pair!) were handed out. Declarations were made for Thursday events. Sign-ups began for massage and chiro sessions ($60 for 20 minutes.) Weather was nice — mid-80s. (But no such luck the rest of the meet.) Shuttle hurdles…

Rants December 3, 2018

Malaga relay mess yields new Team USA selection procedures (but Net savvy is mandatory)

At the Columbus annual meeting, members of the Masters Track & Field Committee debated the relay selection process — an effort to avoid another Malaga mess. The result is a wag-the-dog statement that justifies the use of M70 Charles Allie in the M65 4×100 in defiance of then rules. For the first time, USATF masters’ relay goal is “is to win as many relays as possible. The secondary goal is to involve as many Team USATF Masters athlete applicants as possible in the relays.” Hoookay. The old rules suggested that staying in your age group was Job One: “The TSC…

Barrie Kernaghan (left) and Norm Richards are longtime rivals and teammates.

International May 17, 2018

4 decades as friends and rivals: Aussie sprinters Kernaghan and Richards

I tell newcomers to our niche that a major joy is joining a traveling tribe. The High Jump Tribe. The Throwers Tribe. The Hurdles Tribe. We hold reunions at nationals and worlds. Now comes a story Down Under by Laura Pond of Stirling Times — a tale of the Sprint Tribe. “Masters athletes Norm Richards (80) and Barrie Kernaghan (78) have enjoyed a friendly rivalry for nearly 40 years,” Laura writes. “Mr. Richards, of Woodlands, and Karrinyup resident Mr. Kernaghan competed at the recent Australian Masters Athletics Championships at the WA Athletics Stadium, achieving 12 medals between them.” Barrie says:…