Masters Athletics

I was in Manila the other week to meet PhilippineSports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez on my plan to revive the“Sports for All” program of the agency which include the Masters athletics competition.In fact, there’s a clamor from those who joined the Cebu edition of the trackfest to organize another one.In order to participate in a Masters competition, one should be at least 35 years old.The age groupings are 35 to 39, 40-44,45-49,50-54,55-59,60-64,65-69,70-74,75-79 and 80 and above.In previous Masters competition, Cebu’s oldest runner Rening Ylaya, now 81, competed unopposed (walay contra).While in Manila , I was informed by Paul Ycasas of Cosep that the Asian Masters Athletics championship will be staged in Dongja-Dong, South Korea next month.National Masters president Emerson Obiena invited me to join the team but I have to beg off as I was still recovering from an injury and have not train at all.Speaking of Korea, in 1996 I was part of the National team that competed in the Asian Masters Athletics Championship held in Chamsil, site of the 1988 Seoul Olympics.I had “goose bumps” running in the same track oval where Carl Lewis and Florence Griffith Joyneronce ran.Our team then included Asia’s fastest woman Mona Sulaiman, Asian Games veterans Lolit Lagrosas and Romy Sotto, Sea Games medalists, Linda Lavandia and Dorie Cortejo.I’ll soon organize the Cebu Masters Athletics Association and set theCebu leg of the trackfest before the year ends.When I was in Iloilo two weeks ago, I already sounded the Iloilo“oldies” that include Noel Diel.I also sent word to the Bacolod group headed by Tawe De Oro.

Oldies

Speaking of “oldies” but goodies “I just can’t help but be amazed by Fauja Singh a.k.atheTurban Tornado, a London-based Sikh whobecame the oldest marathon finisher in history when he completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2011 at age 100.Singh clocked 8 hours and 25 minutes.Miyazaki Hidekichi timed 29:83 in the 100 meters when he was 103 years old.The Japanese sprinter once challenged Olympic champion Usain Bolt who holds the 9:58 world record and just recently Don Mc Nelly who completed 744 marathons died at age 96.A late bloomer, Mc Nelly started running at 50 years old, his first marathon was in Boston in1969.He has ran in all 50 states of America and has also finished 117 ultramarathons.

Did you know?

Bob Wieland

a Vietnam War veteran who lost both legs after stepping on a mortar round, using only his arms and shoulders finished his first Los Angeles Marathon on March 8, 1988.Wieland clocked just over seventy-four hours.

Evander Holyfield

In the 1984 LAOlympics, the US boxing team took eight gold medals but light-heavyweight Evander Holyfield won only a bronze after he was disqualified in his semi-final bout for throwing a punch after the bell.After the Olympics,Holyfield won the heavyweight championship three times.One of his unforgettable bouts was with Iron Mike Tyson who bit his ear.Tyson probably mistook Evander’s ear as “bulaklak chicharon”.