Roderick Powell wrote:
My guess has always been that these are legit. (but then again, I thought the same about his triathlons) That is the problem once are proven to have cheated. AND, perhaps the big question is when did Dr. Meza turn into Mr. Hide..
Dr. Meza and Mr. Hide
I like it.
Roderick Powell wrote:
Also, why Frank Meza gave who I think is his daughter-in-law his bib is something that should be found out. As there are no results for her having run Pasadena...when she clearly did. I'm sure there is some innocent reason. BUT, if so why does she finish with Frank Meza's bib. Why would Frank risk drawing attention to himself. Maybe he felt no one would care about a mere half-marathon. Or a triathlon. Or trail races from decades ago.
There wouldn't be any results for her unless she had a separate bib number/chip registered to her. The chip was registered to Frank, and it was said earlier that he crossed finish line before giving bib to her. So any subsequent crossings of a mat already crossed won't be taken into account (they are 'read' but 'ignored' by system).
The only motivation then would likely be that she was a bandit, and with a valid bib showing , their would be no likelihood of being asked to leave course approaching the finish line
A few posts have noted the woman’s use of FM’s bib, but I haven’t seen a comment on this aspect: As usual, the legit 1:26:30 runners handily outpace FM in the Rose Bowl (not strong evidence by itself). And in a quick look on finisherpix — with its great before/after feature — I didn’t see FM at other places on the course near either runner he finished close to, even though clock times would place them at similar parts of the course. Of course, THOSE runners seem to show up at other spots, but FM?
I wasn’t systematic or careful, so maybe I’ve missed something, but ....
Not noted yet? wrote:
I wasn’t systematic or careful, so maybe I’ve missed something, but ....
but....I think we can safely say he cheated.
I Am Sam wrote:
The only motivation then would likely be that she was a bandit, and with a valid bib showing , their would be no likelihood of being asked to leave course approaching the finish line
True, doesn't account for the other two bandits though. Ah well, just another one of those weird and wacky conundrums that our hero Frank seems to be associated with.
brooklyn123 wrote:
doubler wrote:
What are you trying to show with Anaheim Half? We know he gave her his bib after he finished. If there’s a photo of her wearing his bib (or any bib) earlier, that would be interesting.
My follow up will be posted tomorrow. I have comments from Gene, and reached out to Frank. I have the hi-res photos from the latest spot. I had agreed not to use watermarked photos from FinisherPix.
There will also be a guest article published by a well known runner - probably Monday.
look here:
https://freephotos.finisherpix.com/findimageface/100457/2f247257-3707-4828-bf16-0e18c15c9bfb/8189
More pics of the bandit wearing the number than of Frank wearing it.
Not the BAA wrote:
Frank and Francisco ran Boston Marathon in 2008
They also both recorded times at the Pikes Peak Marathon (or Ascent) in 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2013. Nothing extraordinary about the times. They seem to have traveled to quite a number of races together over the years.
In 1988, when he was 39, Frank recorded splits in the Pikes Peak Marathon suggesting that he was probably capable of something near three hours in a flat sea-level race. Also, in 1981, when he was in his early thirties, Frank recorded a 4:39 1500m, which is pretty good for a guy who had been away from scholastic and collegiate running for a while.
Just Sayin'. wrote:
Didn't they suggest you start a thread?, which with hindsight, probably would've been a good idea considering this one started with a "Frank Meza 2:53:10 at LA Marathon (70 years old) unoffical time (just finished)" subject heading, first post of "Great race Frank. Wow!", has got to 93 pages and could go viral .
Worked out well that the thread wasn't started back then. Allowed four more years of cheating by the good doc and four more years for the LRC sleuths and Derek to refine their skills.
Avocado's Number wrote:
They also both recorded times at the Pikes Peak Marathon (or Ascent) in 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2013.
Correction: 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013.
So 2008 seems like it might be the last time he ran a race without cheating. It seems he saw himself getting slower, which is of course normal with aging, but he couldn't deal with it anymore, and so the habitual course-cutting started.
LastRace wrote:
So 2008 seems like it might be the last time he ran a race without cheating. It seems he saw himself getting slower, which is of course normal with aging, but he couldn't deal with it anymore, and so the habitual course-cutting started.
I think you nailed it here. Then he gradually refined his “craft.” But hubris got the best of him. Had he never challenged Dykes’ records, he may have never been detected.
Derek-
You mentioned trying to get in contact with LAM again. Maybe we can offer some questions for you and if any strike you as pertinent you can ask them of LAM.
Is it LAM's opinion Frank legitimately ran the race?
Is LAM taking into account any evidence from the other races brought into question?
If other races ( besides CIM) decided to retroactively DQ Frank, would that weigh into your decision process?
Is there any means to give the rightful winners their due winnings?
Has Frank been contacted?
Has he threatened a suit if he were to be DQd?
When was the last time LAM DQd a participant?
That's what I thought of off the top of my head. I'm sure others have even better questions.
LRC's silence reminds me of this:
might not be Bassons wrote:
LRC's silence reminds me of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVbrTNX7w1I
hm, almost as if there's another huge track championships going on for the next 3 days and the whole team is busy covering that instead of reading this 100 page thread detailing cheating over 10 years. i'm sure they'll cover it in due time.
I'm watching the 10k now. It looks like their running 90 second laps.
Snooze Fest NCAAs wrote:
I'm watching the 10k now. It looks like their running 90 second laps.
Wait... whose 90 second laps are you talking about?
might not be Bassons wrote:
LRC's silence reminds me of this:
I think you're confused:
"What’s LetsRun.com?
LetsRun.com is first and foremost a community of runners. The message boards are where all those conversations you have on your runs continue when you get back from the run."
Clarification. wrote:
might not be Bassons wrote:
LRC's silence reminds me of this:
I think you're confused:
"What’s LetsRun.com?
LetsRun.com is first and foremost a community of runners. The message boards are where all those conversations you have on your runs continue when you get back from the run."
Struck a nerve, eh? I guess when thee free press clams up for fear of getting a lawsuit for writing an opinion.... That is the end of free and useful press. Just saying. Don't sue me. I said nothing libelous, just my opinion about the news.
From a 2015 article about an unrelated runner:
"For us at LetsRun.com, the integrity of our beloved sport is at stake here, and we and a lot of our visitors have devoted a lot of time on (redacted)".
At least look at this case, LRC staff. You can even decide nothing amiss happened.
Seems Frank didn't get the message:
https://twitter.com/LAWomensHoops/status/1109902407880732672