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Oerter honored in New York
In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of his victory at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, discus throwing legend and National Track & Field Hall of Famer, Al Oerter, was honored Wednesday night at the New York Athletic Club in New York City.
Now 70, Oerter was a member of the New York Athletic Club during his track and field career. He was inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1974.
Oerter claimed four Olympic gold medals, in 1956, 1960, 1964 and 1968, a feat unparalleled until Carl Lewis took four consecutive golds in the long jump (1984 to 1996). Recognized as one of track and field's greatest clutch performers, Oerter set an Olympic record with each of his winning throws.
Many Olympic legends gathered at the NYAC to pay tribute to Oerter, including Bob Beamon, Horace Ashenfelter, Tom Courtney, Charley Moore and Lindy Remigino. These days Oerter is an abstract painter having won several awards and has had numerous one man shows. His work can be viewed on his web site: www.aloerter.com
Collins named best male masters athlete
Bill Collins of Houston, Texas, and Germany's Melitta Czerwenka-Nagel have been named the WMA Best Masters Athletes for 2006.
Collins was named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week on March 21, 2006 after sweeping the M55 60m, 200m, and 400m at the 2006 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships in Linz, Austria.
A 2003 USA Track & Field Masters Hall of Fame inductee, Collins posted a world record time of 23.36 seconds in the 200m before claiming another world record in the 60m with a time of 7.34 seconds. Collins finished up his competition with a win in the 400m, clocking in at 54.22.
Earlier this summer Collins won the 100, 200 and 400 meters for the fourth consecutive year at the USA Masters Championships in Charlotte, N.C.. Collins won national championships in the men's 55-59 division by running 11.26w seconds in the 100 meters, 23.44 seconds (meet record) at 200 meters and 53.05 seconds (meet record) in the 400 meters. Collins owns more than 80 masters national titles, 17 world masters crowns and has set nearly 20 world records during his remarkable Masters career.
Collins and Czerwenka-Nagel will be recognized as the "IAAF Best Masters of the Year 2006" next month at the annual IAAF Gala in Monaco.
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