Ottey opens with...

[Kurt Francis]

Given that she was 18 way back in '88, I'd say that's a long time ago...

Kurt

Can't remember last time I saw her with a SP result...

20.23m as a junior. I'd say she's a pretty good shot putter :shock:

[Deuce]

Slovenian Athletic Federation today confirmed that Ottey will go to Osaka.
Full Slovenian squad:

Men:

Matic Osovnikar (100, 200)
Jan Zumer (100)
Damjan Zlatnar (110h)
Bostjan Buc (3000SC)
Rozle Prezelj (HJ)
Andrej Poljanec (PV)
Miroslav Vodovnik (SP)
Primoz Kozmus (HT)

Women:

Merlene Ottey (100 - "B" standard from Glasgow last year, 11.34)
Brigita Langerholc (800)
Sonja Roman (1500)
Helena Javornik (marathon)
Marija Sestak (TJ).

As expected, Ceplak is not on the list.

[Powell]

My biggest fear when I take up Masters SP is that Wyludda will put in an appearance! :shock: :shock:

Unless you put on a lot of weight since I last saw you, SP probably isn't the perfect event for you 8)

[Jon]

Can't remember last time I saw her with a SP result...

20.23m as a junior. I'd say she's a pretty good shot putter :shock:

[mojo]

Wrong event, Mojo. Wyludda is primarily discus, not shot. Can't remember last time I saw her with a SP result...but I still suspect she could whup up on you

And I am sure the other ladies are quite happy not to have her at their meets ! :shock:

My biggest fear when I take up Masters SP is that Wyludda will put in an appearance! :shock: :shock:

Oops!

With her out though I should be in the clear. 8)

Okay not the best choice of words.

[Kurt Francis]

Wrong event, Mojo. Wyludda is primarily discus, not shot. Can't remember last time I saw her with a SP result...but I still suspect she could whup up on you

And I am sure the other ladies are quite happy not to have her at their meets ! :shock:

My biggest fear when I take up Masters SP is that Wyludda will put in an appearance! :shock: :shock:

[mojo]

And I am sure the other ladies are quite happy not to have her at their meets ! :shock:

My biggest fear when I take up Masters SP is that Wyludda will put in an appearance! :shock: :shock:

[Kurt Francis]

Peach:

Try checking the Olympic Games early round results of the past...plenty of girls over 12 seconds (also 13, 14 & 15 seconds have been run) in the OG's, let alone in a small meet. Also, Merlene would receive NO competition on the "master's circuit". No one else in the world is within a second of her. Most of the ladies her age are well over 14 seconds. Merlene HAS to compete on the open circuit for any competition at all!

Kurt

Of course she's running for herself- she loves the sport, she wants to run

But if its just for the love of running, then why not do the masters circuit if you are going to run outside of 12 secs and not be able to compete with girls much younger than you ?

Still irrelevant though, she has rounded into ok enough form by the looks of things...

[peach]

Of course she's running for herself- she loves the sport, she wants to run

But if its just for the love of running, then why not do the masters circuit if you are going to run outside of 12 secs and not be able to compete with girls much younger than you ?

Still irrelevant though, she has rounded into ok enough form by the looks of things...

[Kurt Francis]

Point taken, but just WHO is Merlene running for? Herself? Or you? I can tell you this, I was NEVER competing for friends, family, or the few spectators in any stadium. It was and remains about MY love of competition. I think this is where many fans of any sport get their priorities out of whack. Athletes compete for themselves FIRST! Everything and everyone else is secondary. Athletes that aren't doing it for themselves first eventually find themselves not motivated to continue on in sport. I know, I've run across a lot of kids I coached that were doing it for someone else, not themselves. They quickly found themselves not wanting to do it after a certain point. Merlene couldn't give a rats *&# whether you don't want to see her running 12sec or not. She's not out there for you or anyone else. As long as she can perform in such a manner that pleases herself, that's ALL that counts.

Kurt

P.S. - I did have the pleasure of seeing Merlene run back in '85 at Indy. It was good.

In a word...NO. I.E., I'm 42 yrs old, looking to return to competition after many years of coaching others. While I'll compete in masters meets, I am interested and will compete against the youngsters. I'd rather be in the middle of the pack amongst much better throwers than 1st among a buch of older guys. Masters track, for me at least, is only a means to an end, not the end itself. Once I can't compete satisfactorily against the kids, I'm retiring for good.

But that was my original point. Of course I have nothing against Ottey running- she is my all time favourite athlete and to see her run is a pleasure- if she had retired when she conventionally "should" have, I may never have seen her in person. BUT, when I made my earlier comment, she had just run outside 12 seconds for a distant last place in an average field- no one wants to see that of their favourite athletes, let alone an all time great like Merlene. The fact she is down under 11.6 into a 1.6 headwind suggests that I was premature to worry and that she can get back under 11.4 this season...here's hopin !

[peach]

In a word...NO. I.E., I'm 42 yrs old, looking to return to competition after many years of coaching others. While I'll compete in masters meets, I am interested and will compete against the youngsters. I'd rather be in the middle of the pack amongst much better throwers than 1st among a buch of older guys. Masters track, for me at least, is only a means to an end, not the end itself. Once I can't compete satisfactorily against the kids, I'm retiring for good.

But that was my original point. Of course I have nothing against Ottey running- she is my all time favourite athlete and to see her run is a pleasure- if she had retired when she conventionally "should" have, I may never have seen her in person. BUT, when I made my earlier comment, she had just run outside 12 seconds for a distant last place in an average field- no one wants to see that of their favourite athletes, let alone an all time great like Merlene. The fact she is down under 11.6 into a 1.6 headwind suggests that I was premature to worry and that she can get back under 11.4 this season...here's hopin !

[Kurt Francis]

In a word...NO. I.E., I'm 42 yrs old, looking to return to competition after many years of coaching others. While I'll compete in masters meets, I am interested and will compete against the youngsters. I'd rather be in the middle of the pack amongst much better throwers than 1st among a buch of older guys. Masters track, for me at least, is only a means to an end, not the end itself. Once I can't compete satisfactorily against the kids, I'm retiring for good.

Kurt

Any athlete comes to a certain point where they realize they can't run their bests anymore. Continuation beyond that point is done for the love of what you do, and to see just how good you can remain.

Isn't that what Masters competition is for?! :P :wink:

[Tristan]

Listen, if you enjoy what you do and can still make the qualifying standards, then why shouldn't an athlete compete?

not to mention the money she still makes racing against the young'uns...

how many nigerians are there in norway? my goodness... norway has such a tradition of black sprinters, doesn't it? not only this girl you mentioned above, but they had a 2nd nigerian girl in the euro juniors finals.

[Jon]

Any athlete comes to a certain point where they realize they can't run their bests anymore. Continuation beyond that point is done for the love of what you do, and to see just how good you can remain.

Isn't that what Masters competition is for?! :P :wink:

[Deuce]

Yesterday she was third in Malles Venosta (Italy, international meet), she ran 11.56 (w -1,8 ).