G
UIDO MÜLLER, one of the
world’s greatest living
masters athletes, has
finally retired at the age of
80 due to ill health.
The German specialised in 300m
and 400m hurdles, was named
world masters athlete of the year
three times and was described by
Ken Stone on his popular ‘masters
track’ website as “the most
fantabulous long hurdler in
masters history”.
Müller holds a series of world
records through the M60 to M75 age
groups at 300m and 400m hurdles
plus 400m indoors. These marksinclude 49.65 for 300m hurdles
as an M75 and 56.63 for 400m
indoors as an M65, although he
also excelled at shorter hurdles
races and 200m – clocking 27.99
for the latter as an M75.
Born on December 22, 1938,
in Stuttgart, he began athletics
aged 11 and ran best times of 10.9
(100m), 21.6 (200m), 47.6 (400m),
51.3 (400m hurdles) and a 7.18m
for the long jump. Such was his
speed at 400m hurdles especially,
he almost made the 1964 Tokyo
Olympic Games.
Müller even once graced the
cover of AW (far left).DIP FINISH CRAZINESS AND CONTROVERSY IN ATHLETICS
Guido hangs up his spikes
THE MASTERS ATHLETICS LEGEND FROM GERMANY FINALLY CALLS IT A DAY ON THE TRACK
CAROL DICKINSONMARK SHEARMANThere’s a new kid
on the blocks Slap on the wrist for Langford
IF YOU HAVE A POTENTIAL DIP FINISH STORY, EMAIL [email protected]
AS one of the world’s greatest veteran athletes
retires (above), one of the youngest is making
his mark. Tyler Reynolds from London has been
dubbed the ‘fastest seven-year-old in Europe’
after a series of eye-popping performances.
Reynolds, who goes to school in Walthamstow,
has set European age seven records of 14.96 for
100m and 33.18 for 200m and has been featured
in the East London and West Essex Guardian.
However there are few formally recognised
competitions for children so young and
statisticians generally wait until athletes are aged
over 11 before compiling accurate ranking lists.KYLE LANGFORD was handed a £1000 fine and
ordered to complete a day’s community athletics
service after an altercation with an official at his
local track in Watford at a BMC Grand Prix event last
month. But critics say the punishment is too lenient
and point out that the community service
is a requirement written into the contract of all
lottery-funded athletes anyway.
The Commonwealth 800m silver medallist was
warned by an official for running a warm-up stride
close to a race that was taking place, but video
footage caught Langford pushing the 74-year-old
official, although the athlete has since apologised.
Langford was fined, with the money going to
charity, but allowed to race at last weekend’s
Diamond League in London. When it comes to
community service, athletes on the World Class
Programme are obligated to make half a dozen
athlete appearances representing British Athletics
and the National Lottery, plus five volunteer
appearances such as school visits.
Coach Toni Minichiello told the Guardian: “I’m
gobsmacked at how lenient this is. It is a massive
error of judgment by the disciplinary panel. You
should never lay your hands on an official and, if it
was one of my athletes, I would have kicked them
out of my training group.”Kyle Langford:
800m PB last
weekend in London
despite negative
headlines recentlyVeteran athletics phenomenon Guido
Müller featured on the AW cover in 2014Euro age
record:
Tyler
Reynolds