SPORTS PEOPLE Runner, 42, still chasing sub-four-minute mile.... Scott wants to become oldest runner to break sub-4 minute mile
Press wire service
1,111 words
2 April 1999
The Grand Rapids Press
B7
English
Copyright (c) 1999 Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Steve Scott already has run more sub-4-minute miles than anyone in history. His goal now is to become the oldest runner to do it.
Scott, who'll be 43 May 5, will make the attempt April 24 at the Drake Relays -- 20 years after becoming the first to break the 4- minute barrier in an open mile at Drake.
"I don't know if it will produce the same results as 20 years ago," Scott said Thursday. "But it will be exciting for the people to revisit that day."
Scott has broken the 4-minute barrier 136 times, including eight races under 3:50, and has a best time of 3:47.69, run in 1982. He ran his last sub-4 in 1994 at 38.
The world record for the outdoor mile in the 40-and-over division is 4:02.53 by Britain's David Moorcroft in 1993.
The fastest mile ever run by a 40-plus athlete is 3:58.15 by Ireland's Eamonn Coghlan at an indoor meet at Boston in 1994.
Moorcroft was 40 when he set his record, Coghlan was 41.
"Physically and mentally I feel like I'm capable," said Scott, who lives and trains in Encinitas, Calif. "I've seen in some workouts I've done that it's within reach.
"But as I get closer to it and get into intense training, I get injuries. The physiological standpoint has been my downfall. Now I'm understanding why no one this age has been able to break four minutes. It's very hard training for a mile."
Scott was sloweed by testicular cancer in 1994.
Breaking 4 minutes in a mile requires the speed of an 800-meter runner and the strength of a 5,000-meter runner, Scott said.
It's the speed work that's causing him problems.
"I'd get a slight muscle pull in my calf, then I'd have to lay off for a while," he said. "Then when you come back, you've lost your conditioning."
Scott ran a 5,000-meter at Carlsbad, Calif., last weekend in 14:30.
He figured that would equate to a 4:07 or 4:05 mile, which was encouraging.
Okla. man picks all 64 teams
ENID, Okla. -- Bob Segretti knows a lot about the weather. It turns out he also something about college basketball.
Segretti, a meteorologist stationed at Vance Air Force Base, took first place ahead of some 600,000 challengers in The Sporting News' Beat The Bracket, CNN-SI's Hoops Bracket Challenge, and ESPN's Tournament Challenge.
Segretti correctly picked every game from the regional semifinals through the title game of the 64-team tournament and won tickets to next year's championship game in Indianapolis from The Sporting News.
He also won a $1,000 gift certificate from CNN-SI and from ESPN, a trip to next year's Final Four, 64 pizzas and a computer.
"The guys I work with were kidding me about not being able to do this well with the weather," said the Air Force sergeant, who also works as a part-time sports writer at the Enid News & Eagle. " I said that I do pretty good with that, too. There was also a little bit of luck on my side."
Umpire questions major league survey
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Ken Kaiser is challenging the validity of the Major League Baseball Players Association survey that rated him the worst umpire in the American League.
"I seriously question how many players actually participated," Kaiser told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
While working his last game of the exhibition season in Florida on Tuesday, he said several players told him they hadn't even received the survey. Scrawling some of the biggest names in baseball on a piece of paper -- names like Mark McGwire, Cal Ripken Jr. and Sammy Sosa -- he declared:
"If any of them tells you I'm the worst umpire in the American League, I'll retire on the spot."
Kaiser said he thinks the survey was a grandstanding attempt by union head Donald Fehr to "show his players that he's sticking up for them."
Players rated umpires on physical condition, physical and mental toughness, accuracy of calls on the bases, accuracy of calls at the plate, consistency, temperament, respect for players and overall capacity.
Tim McClelland and Jerry Crawford were rated as baseball's top umpires. Charlie Williams was 36th and last in the National League. Kaiser was ranked last in five categories, including respect for the players and temperament.
Steve Howe can't avoid suspensions
WHITEFISH, Mont. -- Steve Howe, who was suspended seven times for drug and alcohol violations during his career as a big league pitcher, has been suspended as a volunteer coach for the Whitefish girls' softball team.
The Clarkston, Mich., native was told he could no longer help the team on which his daughter, Chelsi, is a second baseman, pending the outcome of a background check by the Whitefish administration.
"We're in the process of reviewing the information that goes along with Steve and his past," said school superintendent Dave Peters.
"We're trying to determine what is in the best interest of the district. It's a very difficult issue for us."
He said Howe may be reinstated after the check. Howe's past problems with drugs and alcohol are the focal point of the inquiry.
"Hopefully reasonable people can come to a reasonable solution," Howe said Wednesday night. "I'm kind of dumbfounded by the whole thing."
Muhammad Ali donates boxing ring
DOWAGIAC -- Muhammad Ali donated his old personal boxing ring to the Dowagiac Boxing Club, which aims to keep teen-agers off the streets.
It's a "vehicle to reach people," said club owner Larry Seurynck, a painting contractor who did some work at the Ali residence in Berrien Springs.
The club opened last month. Though boxing is the main draw, there will be a study area in the 4,200-square-foot gym, with plans to bring in tutors and a counselor.
Caption: AP FILE PHOTO On the run: Steve Scott is shown in this Jan. 1990 photo at the Millrose games in New York. Scott already has run more sub-4-minute miles than anyone in history. His goal now is to become the oldest runner to do it. Scott, who'll be 43 May 5, will make the attempt April 24, 1999 at the Drake Relays.