Quantcast

Lead Stories: Saturday, September 6, 2008

The Law of Attrition in Masters Track

Posted October 20th, 2007 at 8:30 AM by Jimson Lee

Section: News & Results, SoundOFF, Columns, Masters

I recently competed at the 2007 World Masters Athletics championships in Riccione, Italy, Europe’s most popular beach resort just south of Rimini by the Adriatic Sea. Masters track is separated by gender and 5 year age groups, starting from 35-39 all the way up to 100-104 and even a 105+ category!

Someone once said that “masters track records look soft from a distance.” It would not be unusual to feel that the records in the age group just ahead of one’s own are within one’s grasp. When I was 35, I felt I was capable of breaking the M40 Canadian National record for 400 meters. A check of the facts would have told me otherwise.

Let’s look at some statistics to see why this is usually the case. I say usually because some rare elite athletes like 40-year-old Troy Douglas of the Netherlands and 47-year-old Merlene Ottey of Slovenia (formerly of Jamaica) still compete at the elite level. Ex-Olympian hurdler Willie Gault has made a comeback in masters track, setting a world record at age 46 last year with a time of 10.72 seconds for the M45 100m dash.
Read the rest of this entry »


Comment on this post | Permalink

Raschker named USATF Athlete of the Week

Posted September 12th, 2007 at 11:32 AM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Phil RaschkerPhil Raschker has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning the women’s 60-64 100 meters, 200m, 300m hurdles, high jump, triple jump, pole vault and heptathlon at the 2007 World Masters Athletics Championships in Riccione, Italy.

A 13-time Masters Female Athlete of the Year, Raschker has won every event that she has contested so far at the World Masters Athletics Championships. She won the 100m (14.00), 200m (28.61), 300m hurdles (52.27), high jump (1.33 meters/4 feet 4.25 inches), triple jump (9.46m/31-0.5), pole vault (2.65m/8-8.25) and heptathlon (6,742 points). In the final days of competition, Raschker also will compete in the long jump.

Now in its sixth year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
Read the rest of this entry »


Comment on this post | Permalink



-->
Add to Google

Subscribe in NewsGator Online



What's this?

Or subscribe via email


What is your favorite running movie or documentary?
View Results