I have produced world masters rankings for the past several years on masterstrack.com, but this year (2002) will be my last year.

I've been selected by the Masters Track & Field Executive Committee to take over the official USA Masters Track & Field Rankings next year. I will be replacing Jerry Wojcik, who will be retiring from that position after many years of outstanding service as USA Masters Rankings Coordinator.

In accepting this position, I have plans to put the 2003 USA Masters Rankings on-line in a format similar to the world rankings. But because of the time and commitment required to do the USA rankings, I will no longer be providing the world rankings.

But there may be good news about that. I have contacted the council members of WMA and asked them to consider taking on the world rankings as an official WMA function next year. The initial response I received from three council members (Torsten Carlius, Stan Perkins and Ron Bell) is encouraging. They are willing to consider it. In the words of Mr. Carlius, President of WMA, it is "something that should be our duty" and I strongly agree. This is a service that WMA can and should provide to masters athletes.

Taking on the world rankings will take commitment and resources. I think it is important that all athletes join me in encouraging WMA to accept this responsibility. I have set up a form on the internet to make it easy for anyone to send a simple, friendly message to the WMA council expressing your desire to see world rankings produced by WMA in 2003. To use the form, go to http://www.xro.com/yes.html . It just takes a few seconds. Let them know that world masters rankings are important and should be continued next year.