WMACI World Masters Championships, 200m Final

With the most competitive field ever assembled for an M60 200m World Championship Indoor Final, and being the slowest qualifier in lane one, I decided I'm not going to risk injury by really going after this one since on Saturday, Team USA is depending on me to anchor both M60 mens and mixed relay teams where we have a decent chance at Silver.  No one is going to beat the Brits.  

This 200m final was truly historic.  John Wright set the world record in 24.28, breaking masters legend Bill Collins' record which stood for 12 years.  I believe this was faster than any M60 200m since then, including outdoors.   It was 0.17 faster than Pat's outdoor World Championship in Finland last year.  John won by nearly a second over Pat who was Silver in 25.22, and Jorgen 25.35.   Everyone else ran over 26.  I finished last in 26.66, quite slow but not ridiculous.  Lane one was tough.  I had a sore quad coming in and my L adductor was sore afterward.  

John Wright is now becoming a master track legend.  One of the greatest athletes over 60 in history, and he is a smart trainer and hasn't ever been seriously injured.  The thing is, he's a year older than me so he will be ever present in my age group and unbeatable.   The only time he leaves my age group is when I am at the end (i.e. ... like 64).  He will set the standard for years to come and everyone else will be competing for Silver and Bronze.  He is generally a long sprinter but has 100m speed, and has broken 12 last year.  And get this... he never uses starting blocks!

You want to see one of the greatest sprinters in Masters history, watch this.   Notice John's perfect form, beautiful upright and smooth running style, looks effortless.  Here's the race, (notice the judge comes over and tells me my left hand is touching the start line, it really wasn't...sheesh!):   

https://www.youtube.com/live/83M_QYqwBVw?feature=share&t=21321

It's great to have been a part of history and to have participated with these great athletes and great people.  John is a soft spoken classy guy, very nice dude.   I am envious of people like John.  He certainly doesn't need to work as hard to be great.  People like me with no talent have to work their ass off to even be in the same race, 20m behind.  

Anyway, off to the relays today.   After pissing away my last best chance to medal at a worlds in an individual event, maybe we'll get a souvenir today ... with a little help from my friends.   Our mens team isn't particularly strong, Marcus is running injured, and we may have competition from France and Germany for the medals.  Our mixed team is stronger because of the women, India who medaled in the 200m, and Shemayne who was like me the last qualifying finalist.  That is our best relay.  We might even have a shot at Gold depending on what the Brits put up.   Being the top US male, I was selected to anchor both relays.  Hope I can get through with no injuries.  

 

WMACI World Masters Championships, 200m Semi final

I've been very lucky in my lane draws in these first 5 races, always having 5 or 6.  It's a huge disadvantage to have 1 or 2.   This Semi I drew lane 5 with Jorgen from Sweden in 6 to my outside.  He ran the fastest M60 indoor 200m in the world in 9 yrs this season.  He was world #1 until John W. bested him in the heat before.   

Martin from Trinidad was a no show in lane 4 so it was basically between me and Jorgen.   I stayed with him pretty closely until the top of the final turn about 140m.  He had 2 steps on me at that point but increased his lead to several meters by the end, running his fastest race of the meet in 25.19.   I hadn't run that fast in 6 yrs since S Korea.   I ran almost what I ran in round 1, just 26.11,  0.01 slower.  My last 50m was pretty slow.  

Anyway, it got me into the final later tonight as slowest qualifier, lane 1.  Finally, a terrible lane.  With no real chance to medal I decided at that point I'd run the final but not so hard that I would injure myself, because the M60 relay teams were depending on me for Saturday.   Since I'm the top USA M60 200m man, I'll be anchoring both the mens 4x200m and the mixed 4x200m relay.   It's a lot.  

It's nuts... 3 rounds of the 400m, 3 rounds of the 200m, and 2 4x200m relays.  I wonder if anyone else at this meet is doing this.  I rather doubt it.  

I'll do a separate post on the M60 200m final later.  Got to sleep.  Only slept about 3.5 hrs last night.  

WMACI World Masters Championships, 200m round 1

Ran my first 200m race since I was injured on 12/18/21 racing an indoor 200m.   It went OK.  My time of 26.10 brings me to the #1 USA rank this season in the M60 indoor 200m, but it only ranks as 6th fastest qualifier here.  With 52 competitors representing 20 countries, it's quite a deep field.  I have a slim chance to make the final and if I do, I will likely be in lanes 1 or 2 which is death in an indoor 200m.  No medal chance. 

This is an exceptionally fast group of M60s this year.   It has been 9 years since anyone in this age group ran under 25 in an indoor 200m, and already this season, Jorgen from Sweden has done it, and get this....  astonishingly, John W. ran a 24.7 first 200m split in his 400m final!   And there's world champion Pat from France who ran 25.22 today.  I predict all 3 of these guys could go under 25.  In 2019 Worlds at this same track, 25.30 won and 26.34 made the final in M60.  (If I had the speed I had at my last World indoor in Daegu - 24.82/ 55.17, I'd win everything and smash the WR in the 400m... but that was 6 yrs ago, and that's why they have age groups). 

I'm not in a position to win my heat in the semis as I drew a heat with the world #1 Jorgen who ran an easy 25.41, but he's in 6 and I'm in lane 5, so I can chase him.  I also have Martin from Trinidad to my inside and he's no slouch either.  

As long there are no injuries, these World meets are quite fun.  Race, eat, sleep, repeat.  

I chatted with Phillipe, Bronze medalist in the 400m who I collided with, and I apologized for the incident.  My best thing to come out of that incident is that I didn't screw him up or anyone else with my fall.   He was fine with it.  Of course, seeing his medal stand photos kinda stings.  Phillipe seems to be a 400m specialist, as he didn't make it out of the first round of the 200m.  

Been having difficulty sleeping and tomorrow is my earliest race.  I finally fell asleep last night about 2:30 am and slept til 8am, my longest night of sleep since I've been here.  I fell asleep after dinner about 7pm and woke up at 8:30 pm and thought it was morning.  Well, I'm glad it wasn't.  

So, semis tomorrow local time at 11:20 am, finals if I make it at 8:55 pm.  

Video of my heat:  

https://youtu.be/gRTRUnI-EmA

WMACI World Masters Championships, 400m final

A hard post to write.  A disaster race for me, and a strange one at that.   I was in third position with 15m to go and got bumped by the French athlete as he was passing me, it knocked my off balance and caused me to fall.... and that is that.   It was not his fault as we both were swinging wide of lane one and I just got too close to him - my fault.  I would have been 4th if I didn't fall as he had momentum and I was fading.   A hard way to end this quest.

It was a weird race.  John when out spectacularly as we all expected and just missed the World Record by 0.03 running an astonishing 55.65, winning by a  huge margin.   The rest of us all ran slower than our semi times.  The reason is that a slower guy, Darren, took the lead at the break and caused Mike and I to fight to get by him down the back stretch, expending a lot of energy.  We passed him before the final turn and I came into the home stretch pretty spent.  I was following Mike and as I said Phillipe and I swung wide and collided about 12m from the finish.  I went down quickly and walked across the line.  Both Silver and Bronze medals were in the 59s.  

I wanted to be a bit more conservative this race but it didn't work out.  I could have won the break and force the others to try and pass me.  If I had done that, my chances would have been better.   If I had run the same exact race as I had done in the semis, I would have medaled.  Oh well.  It's pretty devastating to end like this after all the work.  But it's pretty clear, I'm simply not as fast as I was during that glorious 2021 season 2 yrs ago.  An inevitable thing as we age I guess.  But still happy to be able to compete at this level.  

I'll finish this indoor season #6 in the world in the M60 400m, #1 in USA.  I never really put together a good 400m indoor race this season.  I had my chances, never produced.   

The 200m starts tomorrow.   The first 3 places are pretty obvious, the 2 world medalists Pat and John, plus the Swede,  Jorgen who has run under 25 and new to M60.  I'll be doing real well to run under 26, which is doubtful.  My goal is to get the US #1 time of under 26.25 and maybe make the final  - slim chance.  Problem is, I haven't run a 200m race in almost 2 years.  I have no idea where I am.  I just hope I can get through it without injury and help the US relay teams on Sat.  I've almost forgot how to run a 200m.   Hard to believe I was a world champion in this event 6 yrs ago.  If only the pandemic hadn't delayed this meet, if only it were during my peak M60 season in '21.   Too many 'if onlys....'   Anyway, the 200m could be fun if everything works.

Moving forward, I will likely run Penn Relays at the end of the month, including 2 relays and a 100m race.  I may run a college meet next month.  Pretty hard to get my ass back out there after this result.   

Anyway, it's about the journey, and I'm still glad I came.   Today is a day off, and I did not sleep well last night, so I may not do much.   I really should go into town and see this place later.  Might never be in Poland again.

WMACI World Masters Championships, 400m semifinal

Well... I won my semi.   It was not a good race.  I went out way too fast and rigged terribly in the end ... really just stumbling over the finish line...  but I still ran 58.93, only the 4th fastest semi time.   All 3 faster times came out of heat 1. 

I hit the 200m in about 27 flat, was about 41.5 at 300m, but my last 100m was at least 17.4.   I had a huge lead through most of the race but lost so much time in the last 15m, I won only by a half second.  The thing is, if I had taken a second off the first lap I would have gained probably at least a half second+ net in total time.  It's going to take a 58 low to be in medal contention.  I think I can do it but I have to execute perfectly.   

And here's the kicker... and this is crazy, but I have lane 5 in tomorrow's final the top choice lane.   And my competition for Silver and Bronze are in lanes 2 and 3.  This is the way it works:  heat winners get best lanes: 4,5,6, and the next 3 by time.  The slowest heat winner, Darren in 60.11 gets lane 4 and the other 2 are decided randomly (I guess)... probably by a computer program.  I expected John, by far the fastest semi time, 57.10 to get 5 and me 6.   But it must have been decided randomly.  To run only the 4th fastest semi and get the best lane is a stroke of huge luck.  Phillipe ran 58.43 today and gets lane 2, because he finished 3rd in his heat, the fastest heat.  Vadim who ran second in my heat got the last qualifying spot.  Since the 3rd heat was so slow, Waldemar who finished 3rd in my heat in 59.73, will not make the final,  despite having a faster time than the winner of heat 3!   And that is that.  I'll have more time to post after the final tomorrow and a day off.   Physically, I feel better after today's race than I felt after the first round.  So, I'm good to go for tomorrow's World Championship FINAL. 
 

WMACI World Masters Championships, 400m round 1

I won my round one heat today in 58.96, faster than I really wanted to run, but I got it done.   I was totally surprised by the Polish champion, Waldemar P. who went out in a crazy 26.9.... crazy for him because that's about how fast he runs a 200m.   My 200m split was nominal, probably 27.2 ish.  He made a move on the far turn and won the the break.  I could've challenged him for it, but I let him go and stayed close behind.  It turns out that was the fastest 200m split of any heat of the 6 heats, by a lot, like almost a second.  As expected he faded about the 270m mark and I eased past him before the final turn, showing him the nice shiny purple soles of my Adidas.  The extra energy expended made it a hard effort and I did rig a little in the last 10m.   Based on Waldemar's history, this was his fastest 400m in 6 yrs, he finished in 59.88.   He ran 61 at his Nationals recently, 26.98 in the 200m.  

I was third fastest qualifier and of all the top qualifiers, I ran by far the most uneven splits.  As expected, John W. cruised to an easy win in 57.93 with no effort, running almost even splits 28/29.   My splits were like 27.2/31.7.   Phillipe from France was right behind John in 58.87, his splits were about 28.9/30. 

The big news of the day is my draw for semi-final.  I got really lucky.   The fastest guy will probably be Vadim to my outside in lane 6, who also is generally not a fast starter, doesn't use blocks, ran 60.48 in round one, with a first 200m split of 28.3.  He did run 57 last year outdoors so he's capable.    3 other guys in this heat I've beaten already... Waldemar (again), Stuart, and Marcus.  Waldemar has the fastest round one time behind me in this heat, but has lane 3.  I have lane 5.  I wonder if he'll try and pull that super fast start again tomorrow?   Either way, I should win the heat and if I do, I'll get lane 4 or 6 depending on the likely heat 3 winner, Darren.  World champ John will certainly get lane 5. 

Getting adjusted to the time, slept last night for 7 or 8 hrs in 3 shifts.  

Here are some photos from today:

1) 320m mark

2) home stretch

3) call room

4) Post race with Rox in the Team USA Normatec compression machines

First Day in Poland

Left my house about 8:30am on Friday for the journey, arriving just before sunrise in Amsterdam and then on to Gdansk just before noon local time.  So, I completely missed a night of sleep.  Got my car and drove the almost 2 hrs to Torun through mostly flat green farm land, ancient farms, and modern wind turbines.  I haven't seen much of the city, but outside of the historic medieval part, the city is rather bland ... reminding me of parts of the NE US where I'm from.  So driving up on this incredible world class modern track facility, it looks sort of out of place.   I must say, this track certainly rivals the Armory, it is one of the finest indoor tracks in the world, and totally different from the track in Louisville where we ran Nationals.  I'd say the straights are 15m longer than Louisville and not as much turn.  The layout, lighting, big screens, and technology is second to none.  When I walked in, they were preparing for the opening ceremonies with a setup for a full orchestra and bleachers on the track, etc...  I had the time to do a short workout but frankly, my foot was hurting from walking miles lugging luggage in the Amsterdam airport, and I was extremely tired so I got my packet, went grocery shopping, and to my hotel.   I chatted with US teammates Ben, Damon, and Paul from the UK, and Thomas from Switz.  

My hotel is a 19th century palace, a large mansion on many acres of park-like land in the middle of a rural farming area about 10 miles outside of town.   So far so good.  It has a complete kitchenette but no stove, just a microwave, refrig, sink, kettle.   No bathtub, just a shower.   So, I got back late afternoon, took a  short walk around and went to bed about 7:30pm.  The place does have a sauna and hot tub, but I don't like public hot tubs.   I fell asleep after I called my dad, slept 3.5 hrs, now I'm up at after 2am local time writing this.   I expect to get my second round of sleep soon.  

First Round 400m - tomorrow

Heat sheets are out.  There are 36 declared competitors in the M60 400m - more competitors than any age group in the 400m, 18 countries represented.  11 have seed times under 59 sec, but probably half that many will produce that.   They are using all 6 lanes and are going with 6 heats of 6.  Heat winners + next 6 fastest will go to semis.  I think they may go with 3 heats of 4 in the semis.   If so, heat winners + next 3 fastest. If they do 2 semi heats, it will be top 2 each heat, next 2 fastest.  I like the 3 heats better.   Semis will be a completely different ball game from the first round.  

I lucked out in the first round with lane 6 and a relatively soft heat.  I doubt anyone in the heat can break a minute, and in lane 6, I'll probably not see anyone.  So, heat 3 lane 6 in the first round.  In my heat I have guys from the UK, Poland, Denmark, Mexico, and Sweden.  The 2 fastest are the Pole and Brit.   My only issue is that I hope my body hold up to the rounds. I just need to get through this first round without injury and with a good time to secure a good semi lane. The 200m is bigger, about 50 competitors.

Poland is 6 hrs ahead of eastern time.   My race is after 5:30pm Sunday (11:30am eastern), so I have plenty of time to sleep again.

Find coverage here:

Results

https://wmaci2023.domtel-sport.pl/

Streaming

https://wmaci2023.com/online/

Schedule

https://wmaci2023.com/schedule/

Torun Sports Arena

My Hotel: Pałac Romantyczny