Posted: August 30, 2005

Athletics: USATF News & Notes: Volume 6, Number 67

Janvrin leads American contingent at WMAs

2000 Olympian Kip Janvrin set a world masters record on August 24 in the M40 decathlon at the 2005 World Masters Athletics Championships in San Sebastián, Spain, highlighting American finishes at the event.

Janvrin won every event except the high jump to score 8,618 points to win over runner-up and fellow countryman John Hoyt (6,929). Janvrin (M40-54.68) also won the 400m hurdles.

USATF Masters Chairman George Mathews won the M60 (20 pound) hammer throw with a toss of 19.84m/65-1.

Other Americans winning gold medals included pole vaulters Johnnye Valien and Leonore McDaniels, who both cleared 1.40 meters/4 feet, 7 inches, to win the W80 and W75 divisions respectively. John Keaston won gold in the M80 10,000m (47:42.27), while Max Springer won the M90 triple jump (4.25m/13-11.75) and 800m (4:58.74). Other Americans who won gold in the 800m were Thelma Wilson (W75-3:54.41), Neil Fitzgerald (M35-1:59.08), and Anselm LeBourne (M45-1:57.60).

Americans who won gold medals in the 200m finals were Lisa Daley (W35-25.17) and Charles Allie (M55-24.47). Allan Tinsenbaum won the M45 100m (11.23) and 200m (22.63) titles, Marion McCoy, Jr. won the M55 100m title (12.22), and Darnell Gatling (57.46) won the M45 400m hurdles.

Bruce McBarnette turned in a season best performance of 1.96m/6-5 to win the M45 high jump. Brian Pope won the M40 5,000m (14:58.28).

For more information and complete results from the 2005 World Masters Championships, visit USATF.org.

Russell joins USA 20 km Championship Field

Blake Russell of the Big Sur Distance Project has been added to the elite women's field for the USA 20 km Championships, to be held in conjunction with the New Alliance New Haven Road Race on September 5, in New Haven, Conn. The race is part of the USA Running Circuit.

Russell, a member of the U.S. 10,000 meter team that competed at the recent IAAF World Championships, joins Colleen DeReuck as a pre-race favorite. USA 10,000 meter champion Katie McGregor has decided not to compete. Also joining Russell and DeReuck in the elite field will be Team USA marathoner Jenny Crain.

The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $4 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.

For more information on the USA 20 km Championships and the 2005 USARC visit USATF.org.

USATF announces National Office promotions

USATF CEO Craig Masback recently announced the following national office staff promotions.

Patty Hogan is promoted to Executive Office Manager. A member of the USATF staff since June 11, 1990, Hogan serves as the executive assistant for the CEO, National Office liaison to the President and Board of Directors. Hogan is the internal liaison for the Executive Office and manages front line customer service.

Sarah Davis is promoted to Senior Marketing Manager. A member of the USATF staff since September 16, 2002, Davis manages day-to-day marketing department activities, manages sponsor fulfillment and relationships with existing sponsors, assists the marketing team in attracting new sponsorships and serves as the internal liaison for the marketing department.

Adam Schmenk is promoted to Events and Broadcasting Manager. A member of the USATF staff since October 14, 1999, Schmenk oversees all facility logistics for the Visa Championship Series (VCS) and other events. He is the Liaison to TV networks and USATF sponsors on signage placement and camera positioning for the VCS and other events, and he serves as the internal liaison for the events and broadcasting department.

Jed Cornforth is promoted to Operations Manager. A member of the USATF staff since May 7, 2003, Cornforth manages many aspects of National Office efficiency and logistics, such as shipping and storage. Cornforth manages all aspects of the USATF merchandise program and online store, from strategy to implementation, and he manages the USATF intern program and other HR functions.

Indiana high schools combine football with cross country

Two Indiana high schools recently demonstrated a revolutionary idea designed to give their cross country programs unprecedented exposure in front of an enthusiastic crowd during halftime of a football game.

In a story that appeared in the August 27 edition of the Indianapolis Star, host Center Grove High School held a 37-0 lead on rival Perry Meridian HS at halftime last Friday night, and that's when a much more competitive event began.

As the football teams left the field and the marching band began its halftime show, the two school's boys and girl's cross country teams started a race on the track that would later finish back in the football stadium. During the final 300 meters of the race, the theme from "Chariots of Fire" was played over the P.A. system and the runners received a tremendous ovation as they finished.

Center Grove athletic director Jon Zwitt and assistant athletic director Doug Schornick came up with the idea, and it wasn't difficult for them to convince the Perry Meridian cross country coaches to agree to the concept.

"All the coaches from the two schools are friends and they called with the idea and we thought it would be a great chance to give exposure to a sport that doesn't normally get it," Perry Meridian girls cross country coach and assistant athletic director Mike Armstrong said. "I'd never heard of something like this and I've been in high school cross country and track for a long time."

The Center Grove girls claimed the top five spots in easily winning the team title, as Perry Meridian's Kyle Mobley led all competitors across the finish line first to lead the Falcons men's squad to the win. Mobley said that while he was initially "kind of negative" about running a race at halftime of a football game, the experience was "awesome." He said that although the course was a little bit dark, the abundance of pavement made for fast times, and the crowd, though mainly for Center Grove, made for a great finish.

"This was amazing," Center Grove boys coach Howard Harrell said. "This was the way I envisioned it in my head. Well, in my head we won. But this is the best meet we ever came in second in."

Runner's World shows ad page growth

Publishers Information Bureau reports that of the top 10 sports magazines (in terms of ad dollars generated), Runner's World has shown the greatest growth in ad pages (19.6% increase) and ad dollars (37.4% increase) for the period January through July 2005.

Runner's World now trails only Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine, Golf Magazine, and Golf Digest in ad dollars generated.