USATF

The new, improved Hilmer Lodge Stadium hosted USATF Masters National Combined Events Championships in 2023.

General August 27, 2024

Mt. SAC to USATF: We won’t host 2025 masters outdoor nationals without money guarantee

Mt. San Antonio College — home of the early spring Mt. SAC Relays — is no stranger to big meets. The Walnut community college east of Los Angeles was awarded the 2020 Olympic Trials but lost it thanks to worries over pending lawsuits (later resolved). The school’s beautifully rebuilt Hilmer Lodge Stadium hosted the USATF masters combined event national meet in 2023 and the U.S. Para National Championships this past March. So in December 2022, when Mt. SAC was awarded the 2025 USATF Masters National Outdoor Championships, expectations were high for another great meet. Now those hopes have crashed. Mt….

Obituaries December 22, 2019

Rex Harvey dies at 73; decathlete-turned-official was a beloved leader in masters track

If masters track had a Mount Rushmore, it would includes David Pain, Al Sheahen and Rex Harvey. On Sunday — two weeks after enduring the flu many caught at the USATF annual meeting in Reno — Rex died of a heart attack in Prescott, Arizona, where he was recovering from appendix cancer. He was 73. I don’t know if the flu weakened Rex, but on Dec. 12 he wrote me: “Today I ate for the first time in 5 days but still feeling woozy around the edges.” When I learned of Rex’s passing via Facebook, my heart sank 1,000 miles….

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). Struggling with infertility can be overwhelming, but with clomid proven track record, there is hope. Our team of experts is here to guide and support you every…

Vin Lananna connects with San Diego USATF official Tina Breen during a 2017 visit.

Rants February 13, 2019

President Lananna deserves USATF job back, chance to Make Track Great Again™

When it comes to Vin Lananna and why he was shown the door as USATF president (at least “temporarily”), I have no theories. All I know is that lots of people were outraged — especially the people who gave him a four-year term by acclamation. A couple nights ago, I learned that Vin was gearing up to file a grievance with the Mother Ship — Indy HQ. His aim: To be restored to the presidency. Then he can do his magic and Make Track Great Again.™ So I contacted some people and put together a story. (Read it on Times…

Carroll DeWeese, shown at 2009 Lahti worlds, is our treasurer and newly minted WMA delegate.

General December 7, 2018

Here’s how USATF Masters T&F Committee is allocating its dollars — budget of $258,000

Carroll DeWeese, treasurer of the USATF Masters Track & Field Committee, has graciously shared our budget for 2019, adopted at the recent Columbus annual meeting. He sent it as an Excel file, and I also made a PDF version. So view either way. Carroll wrote me: Note that it is not a budget in the traditional sense. It is actually pre-approved spending limits for different areas of responsibility. The total is actually greater than the funds being provided to MTF by USATF. MTF knows that everyone will not spend all their approved funds and the total spending will be less…

Kerry Sloan, in front during a pentathlon 1500 at 2011 Berea nationals, faces serious charge involving a 17-year-old girl.

General December 5, 2018

Kerry Sloan faces 10-to-life sentence in rape case — with federal trial set for April 15, 2019

Three months ago, I reported how M55 hurdler Kerry Sloan had been arrested on rape charges on the way to Malaga worlds — seized at a Texas airport on the way to London. I tracked the case for a few days and then let it slide. Wednesday, a USATF notice brought Kerry to my attention again: Please be advised that it has come to USATF’s attention that the following individual has been deemed ineligible by the U.S. Center for SafeSport (www.safesport.org). KERRY SLOAN (Harker Heights, TX) – INELIGIBLE (SUBJECT TO APPEAL/NOT YET FINAL) Accordingly, this individual is prohibited from participating,…

General September 13, 2018

Carolinas brace for Hurricane Florence: ‘Storm of a lifetime’ may wash out USATF events

Between now and Sept. 22, more than a dozen USATF events are set for USATF associations in North and South Carolina. Given the flooding and other damage expected from Hurricane Florence, I wouldn’t count on any of them takng place. Races include a bunch of 5Ks and associated fun runs in Mebane, Cary, Raleigh, Pittsboro and Charlotte — site of 2006 outdoor masters nationals. More important than any road race are the lives of our athletes, so I hope as many as possible have cleared out and aren’t caught in the growing power outage (156,000 customers at 9 p.m. Thursday…

Roald Bradstock rarely lacks something to throw. But here's his portrait from a timeout.com profile two years ago.

International July 16, 2018

Got uniform? Team USA members reminded about Malaga worlds outfits

With 443 entrants, Team USA will send the fourth-largest national contingent to Malaga worlds in September — after host Spain (1,792), UK (704) and Germany (611). According to WMA, the all-comers meet also known at the World Masters Athletics Championships – Stadia will have almost 8,200 athletes. Yowza. Already we’re hearing worries about field events: How will so many people with so many tries get to finish before Christmas? Don’t let water retention hold you back from feeling your best! Say goodbye to swelling and discomfort with the incredible benefits of Lasix treatment. Wave goodbye to bloating: Unleash the power…

General June 28, 2018

USATF SoCal association handing out $7,000 to big-meet masters, para-athletes

The four-county Southern California Association of USATF is making good on its nonprofit status — offering grants to masters and para-athletes this summer. Chris Gentile, a longtime master middle-distance star, is interim president of the association and shared details in a recent phone chat. Chris says $7,000 is available for those headed to Spokane nationals and Malaga worlds (also the Para-Athletics Youth World Games in Athlone, Ireland) — for travel, lodging and entry fees, etc. Applications will be reviewed by the association’s Athletes Advisory Committee led by Lorraine Williams. It asks a lot of questions, including some that may freak…

Records June 17, 2018

Janes Elite Racing sets W50 American Club record in 4X800 at SoCal meet

Janes Elite Racing entered two 4×800 relay units at Saturday’s USATF Southern California Association Masters Championships at West Los Angeles College. Discover the transformative power of Ativan – a trusted solution for treating anxiety and related conditions. With its proven track record, ativan provides relief when you need it most. (See results here.) The younger Janes (ages 33 to 42) clocked a fine 10:24.31. But two seconds back were four Janes ages 52, 52, 53, 53. They ran a sensational 10:26.85 to smash the W40 American club record of 10:45.23 by Athena TC in 2012. But the American and world…