Webmaster TC: Steve Cummings

Senior vice president for smog-busting sprinters

Occupation: Environmental engineer (specializing in air quality) with a large company headquartered in downtown Los Angeles.

All-time T&F bests: High school bests of 10.5 (100y); 23.5 (220y); 51.8 (440y); 18-3 (LJ). College walk-on (one year at Saddleback in Mission Viejo and one year at Cal State Long Beach). Best marks: 10.8 (100m), 22.7 (200m), 49.73 (400m). Steve writes: "Severe preseason toe injury at CSULB prevented me from doing better and, following that season, I stopped my sprinting completely for many years. However, I continued year-round general fitness exercise and this is probably what saved my butt."

Masters achievements: "In 1993, after a 12-year layoff from competition, I joined my company's track team to compete in the USCAA National T&F Championships. My company's team has won the USCAA Division II championship title three years in a row (1994-1996). We hope to make it four this year (1997). It was at my first USCAA meet that I learned of masters T&F. Since I was able to sprint again, I decided to try masters T&F. I ran at my first masters meet in August 1993 at age 37: 12.6 (100m); 57.6 (400m); 25.7 (200m). My best masters efforts to date (all this year) are: 54.0 (400m); 11.8 (100m); 23.8 (200m), 18-7 (LJ). Gettin' there."

Trivia: Steve's first try at 400m hurdles came at the expense of the webmaster, when he ran 67 seconds at Long Beach State in October 1996 -- and now he's thinking seriously of running the 400 IH at nationals, ",not because I enjoyed it, but because with a little practice I could probably do well ... and bring home some of that hardware we all envy."

CEO's note: Steve is a remarkable new masters talent -- and is as modest as he is fast. If he gets his technique and steps down, he could be the first to challenge the great Mike Pannell for the M40 long hurdles title at USATF nationals.