Masters Newsletter 30th Issue February 1981 $1.00 The only national publication devoted exclusively to track & field and long distance running for men and women over age 30 ★ SPECIAL 4th WORLD VETERANS GAMES ISSUE ★ it Highlights it 45 World Marks Set 2400 From 44 Nations •1981 Schedule Compete in 4th World •4th World Veterans Games "2400 compete from 44 Veterans Games nations --Protests against by Al Sheahen South Africans -45 world age marks broken About 2400 participants from 44 -13 US records set nations took part in the 4th World -Americans win 81 gold Veterans Games in Christchurch, New medals Zealand from January 8-14. -List of all US medal While the number of competitors fell winners below the record 3126 at the 3rd World -New world veterans by Games in Germany in 1979 - under standable because of the distance and laws cost - the 44 nations were a new high -Results for the veterans movement. Forty-two •14th World Veterans countries were represented in Hannover and 27 at the 2nd World Games in Distance Championships Goteborg, Sweden in 1977. -Results of 10K No Eastern European or third world —Results of 25K nations were represented, however, so < <- the program still has a ways to go •Regional Reports before it becomes truly worldwide. But •Midwest 30K strong sentiment was expressed to encourage all nations of the world to •Results of 33 events participate in the growing veterans movement. Forty-five world and 13 separate American age-division records were broken as masters athletes continue to Jim O'Nell, San Diego, won Age 55-59 World Veterans 10K Distance geld medal prove the body is capable of achieve in New Zealand, and took 3 silver medals in 5000, 10,000 and Cross-Country, ments undreamed of years ago. The setting 2 age-division records. photo by Bob Pates women's age-record book was virtually rewritten as 36 world and 7 Amerioan 8®. marks went by the wayside. Demomtrations Against South African Athletes American athletes picked up 81 gold o' C medals, 74 silvers, and 60 bronze i i Protests, Violence Mar 4th World Games medals, divided among the approx UL imately 120 who travelled from the U.S. Competition was held in 5-year age hy Al Sheahen groups for men over 40 and women over 35. A pre-raeet one-day program was Politics, protests and violence marred the otherwise successful 4th World Veterans conducted for men 35-39 and women Games in Christchurch, New Zealand January 8-14. 30-34. Daily demonstrations at the stadium by a local group, protesting the participation The incidents were more than o&et in the games of athletes from Sohth Africa, cast a shadow over the otherwise by the engaging hospitality of the New friendly and enjoyable week of competition. 5 cv^ Zealanders, by the good weather and by On at least two occasions, disruptions caused veteran athletes to attack and beat •5 ® the generally smooth way the meet was protestors who had interfered with the events. Q> b The controversy kept the games on page one of. the New Zealand papers for the conducted. Demonstrations against South African entire 8-day length of the meet. «Q. ^ The New Zealand Press called for the Games to return its government grant. athletes (see separate story) were more than offset by the engaging hospitality (Q The tremendous problems faced by the organizers of the Games became apparent z even before the games got underway. of the New Zealanders, by the good Last fall, when hoped-for commercial financial support fell through, the organizers weather and by the generally smooth approached the New Zealand government. It agreed to give $40,000 to the Games way the meet was conducied. with the condition that athletes from South Africa be barred from competing. A continued on page 20.... conttTtued on page 21.... p>". page 2 National Masters Newsletter - February 1981 Bert Lancaster National Masters c/o Middle Atlantic Ath. Congress Officers 738 Land Title Bldg. Philadelphia, PA 19102 Write On! ATHLETICS CONGRESS SOUTHEAST: Ken Kirk TRACK & FIELD CHAIRMAN: Address letters to: 3800 Stonewall Terrace Jim Weed National Masters Newsletter, P.O. Box ^72, Van Nuys, CA 91404 Atlanta, GA 30339 11672 E. 2nd Ave. Aurora, CO 8001(^ MIDWEST: Wendell Miller (303) 341-2980 351 Birkdale Ave. LONG DISTANCE CHAIRMAN: Lake Bluff, IL 60044 Ken Bernard AGE RECORDS eo's & 70's SUGHTED (312) 234-5936 5915 Mission Gorge Road San Diego, CA 92120 Dick Kloepfer You're doing a terrific job on the Over half of the long distance runs (714) 488-3737 (home) Central TAC NMN. Your "Masters Survey" is one of offer no 60 or 70 year old age classes. (714) 281-5585 (office) 45 W. Franklin St. the reasons, as it sTiows you're open They're listed 50-f, leaving the 60 and VICE CHAIRMEN: Crystal Lake, IL 60014 minded and open to suggestions. 70 year olds completely shut out. The Track & Field: (815) 459-2505 *I have found the age records to be excuse being: not enough runners. The Men: Ron Salvio Ron Fox the greatest factor in motivating im real reason seems to be they can get Women: Joann Grissom 3272 Western Ave. provement and participation and attain the runs tabulated faster. They regard Long Distance: Highland Park, IL 60035 ment of our REAL goal - improved older, slower runners as a liability. Men: Bob Boal (312) 432-3411 physical fitness. Thus, I think you The San Diego Track Club has now Women: Jo Lacetera MID-AMERICA: should reconsider your policy of printing approved a rule to include the 60 and 70 TREASURER: Jim Weed only "age-group" records. In the Senior year olds. But will the meet directors George Vernosky 11672 E. 2nd Ave. Olympics article, only one man and five go along? Aurora, CO 80010 women were mentioned as setting 5004 Glen Cove Parkway WiUard Benton, 76 (303) 341-2980 Washington, DC 20016 "age-group" records out of the hundreds San Diego, Calif. RECORDING SECRETARY: SOUTHWEST: that participated and may that set Jerome Perry Don Slocumb world and U.S. single-age records. How 29.Waugh Drive RESULTS (919) 737-2392 do they feel? Cheated. It would not be Houston, TX 77007 TRACK & FIELD RECORDS: "impossibly confusing" in the case of the (713) 869-5605 Race directors sometimes artificially Pete Mundle geniuses in track, none of whom are WEST: divide results into age categories when 4017 Via Marina 00-301 "casual readers" and WANT you to talk Dave Jackson it actually was a single race. For Venice, CA 90291 19103 S. Andmark Ave. records in each paragraph. I have made example, the 10,000 meter race at (213) 823-8804 Carson, CA 90746 quite a study and find that everyone Midwest Masters was actually a fast LONG DISTANCE RECORDS: (213) 638-7125 loves age records even though they heat and a slow heat, but your results Bob Martin Ed Oleata won't always admit it. Most important indicate it as though it was eight National Running Data Center 2870 Glenbrook Way is that an "age-group" record is not a separate races. Perhaps it should be LaJolla, CA 92037 P.O. Box 42888 GROUP record at ail. It is actually a more properly listed as a single race John Brennand Tucson, AZ 85733 record of the LOWEST AGE of the with runners listed in the order they (602) 323-2223 4476 Meadowlark Lane group. 40, 45, 50, etc. I checked it out. Santa Barbara, CA 93105 finished with their divisions behind WORLD ASSOCIATION OF VETERAN The following ages hold the age-group them. This could save space, particularly (805) 964-2491 record: 100: 35, 41, 45, 50, 55, 61, 65, ATHLETES (WAVA) Bruce Springbett in the area of regional results. 70. For the 200: 38, 40, 45, 50, etc. For PRESIDENT: P.O. Box 1328 the 400: 35, 40, 47, 50, etc. Hal Higdon Don Farquharson Los Gatos, CA 95030 The same applies to jumps and all Michigan City, Indiana,, 269 Ridgewood Road (408) 354-2005 other events. 'Thus, you have only one West Hill, Ontario MlC 2X3 Hilliard Sumner year in which to make a "group" record. TRIATHLON Canada 22713 Ventura Blvd. So you can do the greatest service to NORTH AMERICAN REP: Woodland HiUs, CA 91367 the Vets program and the individuals in I suggest we combine masters sports . Bob Fine (213) 884-1349; (213) 277-1000 it by putting in MORE and in fact, into bi and triathlon events; in partic 77 Prospect Place Stan Thompson ALL, age records. Even in fine print, ular: run, swim, cycle. We have a 3 Brooklyn, NY 11217 1549 Ipukula St. because this is one of the greatest iTule rim - Vt mUe swim in our area (212) 789-6622 Honolulu, HI 96821 motivating factors in the whole program. which draws many master participants. U.S. DELEGATES Ruth Anderson To give credit when one does well This past August the Sri Chinmoy Ron Kulik, Ruth Anderson, Bob Boal, 1901 Caspar Drive makes the person happy and "lights his sponsored a triathlon (swim, cycle, run) Irene Obera, Bill Stock Oakland, CA 94611 which drew several master athletes. (415) 339-0563 fires." PENN MUTUAL I think the dates of the 4 big meets in These types of events would be an NORTHWEST: National Masters Director: California in 1981 should be coordinated excellent means of bringing together Carole Langenbach Jon Buzzard on consecutive weekends, so that those the master competitor in different 4261 S. 184th St. coming from long distances can take in areas. This would introduce the compet c/o A.A.U.