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By Ray Glier, Geezer Jock News Reprinted with permission John Seto, 62, is the force of nature behind www.mastersrankings.com. As webmaster of a worldwide site, John's work adds to the credibility of Masters Track & Field. The benefits don't stop there, as you will read below. Please share this story and support the storytelling of Geezer Jock™. ~~Ray Glier  John Seto, 62, works in a blizzard seven days a week. It is not a blizzard of snowflakes at his Pleasant Valley, N.Y. home. It is a blizzard of numbers that fly at him from all around the world. It is enough data all at once to put most of us in a fetal position.
John is the data collection scientist, or webmaster, behind www.mastersrankings.com. If you run, jump, or throw in Masters track & field in a certified event, it’s a good chance Seto has your time or mark. Whether you are ranked 1st or 88th in an event, it is posted for all the world to see. Sometimes it is just enough for you to see your name. “They see their name listed and they can know where they stand, as well as a myriad of other things, so they use the rankings many times just to scout out the competition,” John said. And then Seto said this, which is in line with the imperative tone of messaging each week from Geezer Jock. “What also happens with the rankings is it affects lives in a huge way when they see their names," John said. “In some cases, there have been people that have told me they think the rankings have saved their lives. And that's not just hyperbole. “The rankings have motivated people who have had a sedentary lifestyle. I personally know one person’s history and how they used the rankings to stay with their training. Now, they are setting track & field records.” I have had numerous college football coaches insist to me how “meaningless” rankings are and then their players go out and use the rankings as motivation in a big game. Either the players thought they were ranked too low, or that week’s opponent had a higher ranking, which incensed them. Seto’s work is hardly meaningless. It is indispensable to Masters track & field. The rankings provide motivation, to be sure, but they also knit together the world of Geezer Jocks. “It is an incredible way to make the world that much smaller because it literally connects people from around the world with a common interest,” John said. Indeed, 99 countries were represented at the World Masters Athletics championships [in March 2025] and every participant is now among the 120,000 worldwide in Seto’s data base. It is an awesome responsibility, and it adds to the credibility of Masters track & field to have such a professional website. “My desire is to make sure the lists are accurate, make sure they’re mistake-free, which is a challenge because of all the different modes that come in from around the world,” Seto said. “I feel responsibility on a multitude of levels. I feel a responsibility that every single athlete out there should be listed, and I feel a personal responsibility to strive to list them and do whatever it takes.” *** John's culture of “do whatever it takes” was kindled from work early in his career at a place nicknamed “Big Blue.” That is IBM (International Business Machines), and Big Blue had its own cultural mantra: “Failure is not an option.” For a number of reasons, John is a perfect fit for mastersrankings.com and its demands. He is a workaholic. He has the tech background and he describes himself as a “compulsive helper.” John had some help in building the data base. His wife, Linda, is listed as an employee/director/secretary. She has pitched in with technical and moral support and shared the financial burden in making the enterprise sustainable. Then there was John's and Linda’s daughter, Becky, who was in a wheelchair because of cerebral palsy. On those challenging days, which were many, Seto said he could peer over the top of his computer monitor and make eye contact with Becky and feel renewed. Becky was non-verbal, but she was a constant companion. “She just picked me up,” he said. “She was my manager working with me every single day.” Becky, who also had a rare genetic disorder, Kleefstra Syndrome, died in May of 2024. She was just 31 years old. *** In 2006, Seto began competing in Masters track & field in the Men’s 40-44 age group. He threw the shot, discus, hammer, and weight. In 2007, John climbed to No. 4 in the U.S. in the Super Weight Throw and No. 8 in the Weight Throw. You can see his own MastersRankings profile here. It was about that time Seto was drawn into the rankings and the challenges of a creating a robust national and then international system. The system, which included hand-written data on 3X5 cards, was desperately in need of an upgrade. John’s work at IBM and as an executive-level consultant for his own company makes it seem like his destiny was fulfilled. “I was very experienced in managing multi-diverse things simultaneously,” Seto said. “I was very experienced in around the clock sort of work, in managing large teams to move mountains.” In the case of MastersRankings.com, John is managing a mountain of data. He needs to wear “blinders” so thousands of tasks do not snow him in. It helps immensely that Seto is aligned with the cause of Masters track & field. “I believe in the mission,” John said, “I have a passion for the wellness of an aging population.” Click on this link to support and sustain www.mastersrankings.com.
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 Here’s the high-banked curve of the 200-meter track. This entire setup is delivered to the venue in sections and assembled on-site. By Leah Rewolinski The Villages TLC Word Nerd THE GOOD Those of us who competed in or watched the 2025 USATF Masters Indoor Championships feel lucky this event took place so close to The Villages: the Alachua County Sports & Event Center in Gainesville FL, February 20-23. This was way more than your average track meet. Masters athletes from all over the country came here to compete. Some even arrived from other countries, no doubt tuning up for the World Masters games to be held here in March. (Since this was the USA track and field national championship, entrants from other countries weren’t eligible for awards.) The 200-meter track with banked curves was like tracks at elite meets you’ve seen on TV or streaming broadcasts. But media coverage doesn’t convey the thumping of runners’ shoes and the challenge of sprinting at that angle. Inside the oval was a straightaway for sprints, as well as the long jump, triple jump, pole vault, and hurdles for pentathletes. The shot put/weight throw and high jump occupied one corner outside the oval with their own bleacher section. The amazingly fast scoring system kept things interesting for everyone. Finishtiming.com listed each heat’s entrants in “live” format before the race. Within a few minutes of the finish, every athlete’s time and place appeared in order, and we knew immediately who had qualified for finals. (For details on timing, see P.S. 2 below.) THE BAD The bleachers must have been designed by a personal-injury law firm. They created the spectator pentathlon: step, slip, trip, fall and bounce. THE BRR-SKI Those chilly temps and biting wind that often plague our Villages track workouts followed us to Gainesville. No problem for an indoor meet, right? Well, yeah, except the warm-up area was outdoors. <shiver shiver> "Brrr-ski!" It was no one’s fault, really. (Don’t you hate when that happens? There must be a scapegoat!) This sports center, which also hosts basketball and volleyball competitions, has no extra room for jogging or practice sprints. So competitors searched outside for wind-protected and sun-warmed areas when possible. And after a cold warm-up (oxymoron alert!), they returned indoors where the action was. And really, that’s a minor flaw for those of us with decades of track experience who can recall gyms as cold as a meat locker… or an event dragging on for hours because of poor marshaling… or an entire women’s heat left out. As the coach in “Chariots of Fire” put it, “I’ve seen better-organized riots.” So that left us all the happier to enjoy this top-notch indoor facility, great officiating, meticulous scheduling and first-class posting of results. Great for competitors, fun to watch – it was an event to remember. Leah --- P.S. Brrr-ski is Upper Midwest Pig Latin: to emphasize a word, add “ski” to it. It’s part of our rich Polish heritage. P.S. 2: See for yourself: Go to Finishtiming.trackscoreboard… click “All meets,” scroll down to February, then scroll down and click on “USATF Masters Indoor Championships Gainesville.”  Could be worse. Could be snowing. We’ve had a run of chilly weather lately. (Shhh… this happens every winter, but don’t tell the Florida Tourism Bureau I said so.)
For 60 years I coped with 30-foot snowdrifts and icicles that have been known to kill people, but that doesn’t keep me from complaining now. You, too? And those who hang around year-round must deal with what Kathleen Riddle calls the “stupid hot” summer. What’s a poor track and field athlete to do? A few ideas off the top of my head: Rest We’re a highly motivated bunch – so motivated that we don’t realize taking a break is vital to training. When the weather improves, your outlook and your body will be rarin’ to go. Cross it up Some team members keep a wind-trainer bike in their lanai or weight machines in the garage. Besides strengthening different muscles, cross-training wakes up your sluggish brain. Take it indoors… Besides running, many of our club members use fitness centers in good weather and bad. Try out this option with a day pass. …or hit the town From billiards to dancing to tai chi, or tickets to professional opera, plays and music tributes – if you can’t find something new to do around here, check whether you still have a pulse. Shop Take a good look at your trusty old training shoes. Holes where your socks peek through are nature’s way of telling you it’s time for a new pair. Or treat yourself to a stylish jacket, tee shirt or cap from Custom Apparel; they’ll print/embroider it with our official team logo. (For details, click here.) Make it a movie night by streaming an underdog film like “Chariots of Fire,” “Breaking Away” or “St. Ralph,” the sweetest boy-runner story you’ve never heard of. Zone out in front of a cozy crackling fireplace video and take a long winter’s nap. Leah Rewolinski The Villages TLC Word Nerd  Ray Jancso unleashes his sprint speed. Team member Ray Jancso’s military service record gives new meaning to the term “close call.” Ray earned three Purple Heart medals in the Vietnam War. Later in life, he overcame yet another close call with a serious health condition. Read on to learn why one medical expert calls Ray’s resilience a type of alternative medicine.
This outstanding story about Ray Jancso was written by another Ray: Ray Glier, whose Geezer Jock News “celebrates older athletes [through] storytelling about their triumphs.” Ray Glier’s weekly e-newsletter is free, and his branded merchandise “is a slap back at ageism.” Treat yourself by visiting his website, GeezerJockNews.com, for a dose of geezer pride and enthusiasm. And now, Ray Glier’s in-depth story on Ray Jancso’s incredible close calls… How alternative medicine saved Ray Jancso By Ray Glier Geezer Jock newsletter / September 24, 2022 Reprinted with permission The close calls for Ray Jancso in Vietnam were like an echo. They kept coming. He was shot and brought that bullet home with him still lodged in his right leg. He was caught in the blast of a booby trap, which blew a hole in his left calf. Calamity had a third crack at him when Ray had a gun shot out of his hands. He was saved only because the bullet went through the handguard of his M16 and flattened against the barrel. Then there was the time the armored vehicle he was riding on hit a mine and he was blown into the air. When he came down and hit his head on the side of the vehicle, the laceration looked like somebody had tried to peel back his scalp with a saw. Jancso (Jan-so) was lucky to be draped in three Purple Heart medals, not a flag on a casket, when he came home. A close call closer to home In 2018, Ray had another close call and survived, but this time luck had nothing to do with it. He had a heart issue and would have died, he said, except he was in excellent physical shape. Jancso had built up a health bank, a rainy day fund, something his body/mind could use to combat rude health when he got older. Jancso, 80, had practiced fitness for years and my friend, Dr. Bob Schwab, calls this the basis for “alternative medicine.” We will talk more about this practice of alternative medicine in a moment. But keep reading about Ray, please. Jancso’s lifelong fitness regimen not only kept him alive, he collected some track medals to go with the war-time medals. Last May, Ray won Gold in the 50, 100, and 200 in M80 at The National Senior Games in Ft. Lauderdale. It seems a little tardy to be writing about Ray, seeing as he won those medals four months ago, except that he said this week he is ready to retire from competitive racing in the national games… …only he is not going to retire from being fit. Ray still plans on meeting his track buddies every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the track in The Villages in central Florida and go through with his workout. He doesn't think he wants to continue to put all the training required for the big meets, but he is not done with the exercise required to beat the next episode of rude health and he will never tire of his pals. “You have a bunch of people to train with,” he said, “so you don't have to train by yourself. If I were to have to train by myself, I would have never been able to do what I did (medals). “Having those other people out there and knowing that Monday, Wednesday and Friday, they’re going to be there, you gotta show up. You don't have to, but you know, you feel like you have to. So you got a lot of camaraderie there.” More about that health scare Jancso said the endocarditis in 2018 ambushed his speed and his endurance, but not his willpower. A guy that had won two gold medals (50, 100) and a bronze (200) in the 2017 National Senior Games could no longer walk the track, much less run on it after the heart ailment that kept him in the hospital 14 days and on an IV drip for two months (three bags a day). But he kept grinding to regain his physical dependability. In the end, Jancso just overwhelmed a persistent infection with a persistent attitude. “I never thought about quitting,” he said. “I didn’t know how far back I could get as far as fitness level. I had no clue, but I kept at it.” It wasn’t until late in 2021 that Jancso started to feel like a sprinter again. By May 2022, he was a national champion. Ray had a role model when it came to perseverance. His father, James, a steel worker in Pennsylvania, had the same makeup. “If he could stand up he was going to work,” Jancso said. “He could be sick as a dog and he was still going to work.” Now you can see the layers of “alternative medicine” Dr. Schwab was talking about. The mental fortitude to go with the physical strength. “Healthy habits (mental and physical) strengthen you for whatever illness or injury might come,” Dr. Schwab said. “These habits affect your immune system as well as your mood, strength, resiliency, etc., so I think these people do better. “This is the basis of alternative medicine to a large degree, and is the explanation for medical miracles, in my view. The immune system is the key.” Jancso was a borderline medical miracle. “I don’t know how close I was, but Rick Riddle (his coach) came to see me and told me later, ‘Jeez, I didn’t think you were going to make it,’ ” Ray said. These medical miracles are the real deal The science is pretty clear that the heart and immune system do a lot of cross-talking, like neighbors across the fence. Ray was very neighborly in that regard and that is why—with the help of antibiotics—he defeated the inflammation in his heart. This alternative medicine is not the late-night voodoo you see on the TV. This is the authentic stuff. We all need it, but it is challenging to try on a new lifestyle of running and vigorous exercise. It is all about re-cultivating a mindset, said Michael Sachs, PhD., professor emeritus at Temple University with expertise in exercise and sports psychology. Older people are reheating fitness regimens they learned decades ago. “Aerobics with Ken Cooper took off in 1968 and then there was the running boom of the ‘70s, and what you are seeing is people that were physically active in the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s, who maybe let their conditioning slide, are getting back into it,” Sachs said. “They are listening to the science and remembering what they learned way back.” Sachs, 70, said another factor in the rise of the older jock are initiatives such as Exercise is Medicine from the American College of Sports Medicine, which urges doctors to give physical activity assessment and counseling to older patients. That is alternative medicine. Feeling healthy = feeling better In this era of lotions and potions, and where Detox IVs are really a thing, Geezer Jocks are not trying to decode old age. Their experience simply tells them what makes them feel better, and what makes them feel better is... exercise. So whether you jog, walk, bike, swim, or chase the dog around the yard, you are practicing “alternative medicine.” It is ok to use the term loosely, but also remember the mental side of exercise, too, not just the cardio. Mentally, Jancso could deal with the despair of possibly lying on his death bed with the heart issue because of so many close calls in combat. In Vietnam, the gun was shot out of his hands five seconds after he stood up to lead a charge on an enemy position. An eighth of an inch either way and the bullet deflects to his chest and he is gone. As it was, he was still blown backwards. He heard someone say as he flew through the air, “The lieutenant’s dead.” Ray was the lieutenant. There was the bullet he took to the leg, and the blast from the booby trap, and you wonder how many close calls with Agent Orange Jancso’s immune system has fought off. Ray figures as many soldiers were killed by the enemy in Vietnam as died from exposure to Agent Orange, the toxic death the U.S. used to kill vegetation the Viet Cong used for cover in the jungle. The use of the defoliant in Operation Hades was chemical warfare, and Jancso figures an odd rash and some acne that showed up on his body in later life could have something to do with that rainbow herbicide Agent Orange. So, of course, he is not going quit on his exercise regimen. Ray might not train four or five days a week in 2023 to get ready for nationals, but he will stick with that one day where he runs three 300s to build endurance for the last 50 meters of the 200. He still sounds eager to carve another day into a fast/slow combination of running 400, walking 400, running 400, walking 400. As always, Ray’s workouts start with 30 minutes of dutiful stretching. "You can't ever do too much stretching," he said. Jancso also declared in 2017 he was going to hang up his running shoes after the National Senior Games that year, but he rallied the competitor inside him. He might change his mind again after competing in the Florida Senior Games this December. Ray just has to overcome that ego thing that torments competitors. “Some guys just want to participate,” Jancso said. “If they get any place, or just make the final, they’re happy and they should be. Unfortunately, the way I am, if I'm not on a podium, I'm not happy." He showed a shameful smirk and said, "That's kind of not good, I know that.” Ray might not be happy without the podium, but he will never abandon his joy in the practice of alternative medicine.  USA Gold! Rick Riddle in the M60-64 4x200 relay finals, 2014 WMA Worlds, Budapest, Hungary Has Coach Rick Riddle got news for you! Two outstanding opportunities to compete at (or watch) at the national and international level are coming just a few months from now in Gainesville, Florida.
In this and the following two blog posts, Rick explains why we’re lucky to have these meets right in our back yard. The third post includes photos and a video taken by Kathleen Riddle that’ll really ramp up your interest. Leah Rewolinski The Villages TLC Word Nerd Hello Team, Two awesome opportunities are coming your way in 2025! First is the USA Track & Field Masters Indoor National Championships at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center in Gainesville on February 20-23, 2025. The registration deadline is still to be determined by USATF. In late March you have a great opportunity to compete in (or watch) the World Masters Indoor Championships, also at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center. This is the first time the World Masters Indoor Championships has been held in the USA. The meet will take place on March 23-30, 2025, with a registration deadline of January 23. In the blog posts that follow I will give you some insight on how to get registered and what you can expect. Kathleen and I have traveled to world indoor meets and USATF national indoor meets over the years. They’ve provided us with great memories. Photos taken by Kathleen at the 2014 World Masters Indoor Championships in Budapest appear at the end of these explanations. Here are the basics of the USATF (national) Masters Indoor Championships.
Here’s what to know about the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships.
Coach Rick Riddle Additional Useful Links Alachua County Sports & Events Center USA Track & Field -- Masters For the national championships: 2025 USATF Masters Indoor National Championships For the world championships: 2025 WMA Indoor Championships (USATF site) 2025 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships (WMA site) To discover more advantages of membership in USA Track & Field, just scroll down to the next blog post. Hello Team,
I have been running in USATF meets since I began track at age 50. These track meets are far better organized than the Senior Games you are already familiar with. The annual membership fee of $55 allows you to compete in their track meets across the USA as well as the WMA world championships. The introduction below is taken from the USATF Masters website. Coach Rick Riddle USATF Masters track and field and LDR [long-distance running] consist of local, regional, national, and international competition opportunities for adult athletes. In track and field, we have three categories of participants. Masters are 35 years of age and older (in LDR road racing, Masters start at 40). Sub-Masters age 25-34 are welcome at track and field local and national championships. (Note: you cannot compete internationally, such as at the World Masters Championships, until 35.) All levels of ability are welcomed and encouraged to participate. Very few meets require qualification standards; you do, however, need to be a USATF member. Masters track and field actively promotes fitness, friendship, volunteerism, athletic development, competition, and sportsmanship, and is inclusive. Join Us! Men and women compete separately in 5-year age groups starting at age 35: 35-39, 40-44, etc. There is also a Sub-Masters age group for athletes 25-34. Masters meets typically include all T&F events: sprints, distance running, hurdles, throws, jumps, racewalking, and relays. Sincerely, USA Track & Field And finally, scroll down for the last third post, which offers an exciting glimpse of what an actual World Championships is like. Leah Rewolinski Hello Team, I have run in several indoor and outdoor world championships. These events are conducted in locations across the globe. They are very well organized and give you an opportunity to compete against athletes from around the world. If you attend one of these, you would be representing Team USA and wearing the Team USA uniform. There are no qualifications required. Kathleen and I have made many trips abroad for these meets. The meets themselves are colorful and memorable, primarily because of the many different languages and uniforms. World Masters Athletics is the governing body for masters world competitions. The introductory information below is copied from the World Masters Athletics website. And below that is an assortment of photos from our WMA Worlds Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Coach Rick Riddle WMA MISSION STATEMENT Promote premier athletic events for athletes thirty-five and over, of all abilities, and encourage their passion for active healthy competition, global camaraderie, and celebratory spirit. WMA ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS
Images from the WMA Indoor Worlds Budapest, Hungary 2014 Photos and video courtesy of Kathleen Riddle (scroll down past photos for link to video).  I happened upon this photo when Anthony Wyatt asked me to forward it to another club member. He graciously agreed that I could publish it as a follow-up to his bio (below).
The six-rung Home Goods ladder, surrounded by Anthony's field implements, holds most of his awards from 17 years of competition. At the top is a framed chart showing his world number one age-group ranking in the javelin, as noted in his story. Leah Rewolinski The Villages TLC Word Nerd Team member Anthony Wyatt is one of our winning-est athletes, but we don’t always see his full practice. That’s because his specialty – field events – often requires off-site workout venues (especially the javelin!)
Here he shares what it takes to train for and excel at these various disciplines. Leah Rewolinski The Villages TLC Word Nerd Which field events do you compete in currently? I do the high jump, triple jump, long jump, javelin throw, discus throw and the hammer throw. The pentathlon is comprised of five events, in this order: hammer throw, weight throw, shot put, javelin and discus. I’m #34 in the 2024 World Masters Ranking. How often do you compete? I competed in about 17 track meets last year and the year before. That was a lot! This year I have only competed in eight track events. What got you started in the sport? Seventeen years ago, my son’s high hurdle coach encouraged me to compete in Masters track. At that time I was encouraged to run the 50m and 200m, and compete in the high jump and long jump. What’s your favorite event? Currently my favorite field event is the javelin throw. I started throwing the javelin seven years ago, and at the end of year one, my best distance was 88 feet. Now, seven years later, my best distance is 135 feet 10 inches, which landed me number one on the 2024 World Masters ranking from January to July of this year (for my age bracket, which is 75 to 79 years old.) How do you train for a variety of events at once? My training for certain events coincides with days of the week. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I focus on leg stretches and stretching before and after the workout. I do jogging, high knees, sprints, intervals and various run-ups for each event. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays are for upper body exercises, including strengthening the back and core plus more neck, elbow, arm and shoulder flexibility. And during competition, how do you maintain concentration while switching from one sport to another? Concentrating and focusing from one event to the next is challenging. However, the mechanics and the steps for these events are somewhat similar. That is to say, the use of the lower body, the hips, the shoulders, the elbow, and the throwing motion are somewhat alike (in my mind). Over time, I feel that I’m able to apply those similar steps using the different implements at game time. Describe how strength training, flexibility and other generalized aspects fit in. Strength training and flexibility are of the utmost importance to me because that means I’m going to avoid injury and time out of competition.  Young Mo at an international competition.  From the archives: what great form out of the blocks! Citius, Altius, Fortius
(Faster, Higher, Stronger) By Mo Lewington Editor’s Note: Mo Lewington is one of our “quiet heroes.” Her modesty is especially remarkable when you learn of her international achievements in track and field. She agreed to share her story with us. Leah Rewolinski When I was a child, running was my idea of playtime. As my legs grew longer I started beating most of the boys at school. My physical education teacher at secondary school encouraged me to join the local athletics club. I was eager to run, train and race, but it took a strong effort to convince my father, who felt I was too young. It worked, I worked (hard), and the rest is history. I was focused on the long jump when our coach, Bill Marlow, told me: “A great long jumper must develop great speed.” So I began training for sprints, working out on the track and in the weight room. This opportunity exposed me to world-class athletes and the value of a strong work ethic. In 1962, at age 15, I won the English Schools Championships in the 150 yards. The following year I became the national champion in the 200 meters, ages 15-17. I began competing at the international level and, at 17, qualified for the 1964 Olympics [as Maureen Tranter]. Representing Great Britain at three Olympics During my ten-year span of international competition, I competed in three European Championships and two Commonwealth Games. I was a member of the British team for three Olympics: 1964 Tokyo (relay squad), 1968 Mexico City (200m, 4 x 100 relay), and 1972 Munich (4 x 400 relay, injured). My career also afforded me two world records (4 x 110 yds, 4 x 200m), and I equaled the UK record of 10.6 in the 100-yard dash. It was a great honor to represent my country in the Olympic Games. There was pressure to perform to the best of one’s ability but also a lot of team spirit and support. While I was proud of my accomplishments, I was also humble in my appreciation of their meaning. As Whitney Houston sang in the Olympic theme, “Give me one moment in time when I’m more than I thought I could be.” A proud Olympic symbol It wasn’t until my early 70s that I realized most Olympians wore a reminder of their accomplishment; I was urged to purchase one myself. No, not a tattoo, but a beautifully designed emblem of the Olympic rings in gold, with the appropriate gemstone inside each ring. I was also granted the use of OLY* post-nominally by the World Olympians Association in recognition of my participation and continued adherence and promotion of the Olympic values: excellence, respect and friendship. I still live by the Olympic Oath of fair play. Retiring from international competition I retired from international competition at age 27 for personal and family reasons. I worked as a telephonist [switchboard operator] and enjoyed playing field hockey. Wanting to give back to my sport, I started coaching at the track club. I met a wonderful man, Peter, who changed my name from Tranter to Lewington. We moved around England a bit but settled back in the Midlands in 1992, where I began masters training at the Royal Sutton Club under the tutelage of Joe Caines. He is still the coach at my club. Un-retiring from international competition The following year I won my first international level masters medal in Buffalo NY. My masters events included the 100, 200, 400, 4 x 100, and 4 x 400 relay. When traveling the world for competitions, Peter and I would frequently stay an extra week for a touring vacation. This provided many great memories and artifacts; I grew to admire elephants. In 2004, I “re-retired” from international competition, and we made our first Villages trip to visit Jean and John Topliss – a journey I continue to make twice a year, even though J & J have sold their Villages home and moved back to the Midlands. After leaving competition, I continued working out with the Royal Sutton Coldfield Athletic Club and occasionally participated in the throwing field events, as well as assisting with running track meets. I have also competed in The Villages Senior Games, mostly shot put and discus. In my 60s I was persuaded to run the 100m, once. [Any injuries during your career?] Of course! In 1972 I suffered an achilles injury at the Munich Olympics which prevented me from competing. As a veteran athlete I have had a few problems with my meniscus. I guess the wear and tear of many years of hard work finally caught up to me, as I had my arthritic hip replaced last year. Now my personal goals are to stay fit, be able to JOG again, and live my best life (with a suntan, of course). Mo Lewington, OLY *OLY is a post-nominal title granted by the World Olympians Association to registered athletes who have competed in the Olympic Games. Similar to other designations like PhD and MD, it can be used after an Olympian’s name on business cards, resumes, social media, and so on. |
persistSuccess is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts. Leah rewolinskiThe Villages TLC Word Nerd & webmaster Archives
November 2025
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