But the 60-year-old Oakland resident will graciously accept one, anyway, when he picks up the Road Runners Club of America's Male Masters 2004 Runner of the Year award May 14 at the group's national convention in New Orleans.

"I've never been a superstar," said Goldman, who began running as a grade-schooler in Indiana. "But it's something I enjoy doing, and I'm a hard worker."

Goldman, who follows the likes of the legendary Bill Rodgers among past winners of the award, turned 60 last September and promptly went undefeated in the Pacific Association's cross country series, setting a couple of course records along the way.

He still could rip off a 5-kilometer time in the low 17-minute range during his 40s, and within the past year clocked 18:06 over the same distance at the El Primo's run.

Goldman, who competes with the Lake Merritt Joggers, has finished second in a trio of races in recent months, including at the Washington DC Cherry Blossom 10-miler. "I'm only human," he said.

Stopwatch readings notwithstanding, Goldman has no plans to slow down. "A big reason I do it is for my health," said Goldman, whose father died of heart disease at age 61.

He's also convinced running provides peripheral benefits.

"It's one of the few sports where I can be on the same starting line with Olympians, where I can run the same course at the same time with someone who has set world records," Goldman said. "It's unique in that respect.

"I've seen how it can change people and their lives. For the most part, from what I've seen, it makes them a better person because it involves sacrifice and dedication."

Goldman saw that impact first-hand during six years he helped organize "Students Run Oakland," a program that trains at-risk high school kids for marathons.

The program began with eight Castlemont High students in 2000, and a year later every one of them completed the Big Sur Marathon. "One kid took eight hours, but he ended up being student body president at Castlemont," Goldman said.

This past March, 53 students from three Oakland high schools tackled the Los Angeles Marathon. All but one of them finished the course, providing Goldman 52 more reasons to run.

DRAGILA INJURED: Stacy Dragila, the American recordholder in the women's pole vault and a regular at the Modesto Relays, has scratched from Saturday's 64th renewal after suffering a partially torn Achilles' tendon during workouts last week.

The agent for the 34-year-old former world-recordholder told Modesto meet director Gregg Miller that Dragila expects to compete again this season.

Even without Dragila, who tied the world record at Modesto five years ago, the meet has assembled an impressive field.

Miller said sprint star Maurice Greene, confirmed to run on a 4x100-meter relay, may also go in the 100. "It's 50-50," Miller said.

The men's pole vault field is excellent, featuring ex-Stanford star Toby Stevenson, who scaled 19 feet, 81/4 inches at Modesto last year, and Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner is set to run the 400 meters.

Allen Johnson, the four-time world champ and 1996 Olympic gold medalist, tops a sparkling invitational field in the 110 hurdles. James Logan High standout Kevin Craddock is scheduled to run the event in the open division against collegiate competition.

OH, CANADA: She loves her country and is trying to be patient, but hammer thrower Jennifer Joyce admits, "It's frustrating."

Joyce, the 24-year-old Cal grad and throws coach for the Golden Bears, hinted that if her homeland doesn't help push her toward the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, this summer, she may pursue U.S. citizenship.

Joyce is the Canadian recordholder in the hammer, with a best of 223 feet, 10 inches, but has missed out on trips to the past two World Championships and the 2004 Athens Olympics for what she called "stupid reasons."

Equipped with the best mark of any Canadian and the "B" standard for the past two Worlds, her country chose not to send her because she hadn't attained the "A" qualifier. Last year, she had the Olympic "A" mark, but was told she needed two throws at that distance. When she got beat in the final round of the Canadian Olympic Trials, her last chance was gone.

"Part of me feels like they don't want me to compete," Joyce said. "If Athletics Canada really wanted me to compete at the last two World Championships and (the 2004) Olympics, they would have made it happen."

Joyce just missed her national record Sunday when she threw 223-5 at the Cardinal Invitational, one of five throws in six attempts that exceeded 220.

"It's encouraging to have the series I had, knowing I'm still technically off a little," she said.

The "A" qualifying standard for Helsinki is 228-0, but Joyce said she isn't clear on what Athletics Canada will require to earn a berth on the national team.

"Uh ... they haven't put out the selection criteria yet," she said.

FINISH LINES: The NorCal Community College Championships will share the stage with the pros Saturday at Modesto Junior College, its schedule merged with the Modesto Relays. City College of San Francisco is the men's favorite, with Sacramento City College expected to top the women's standings. ... Cal's Brooke Meredith and Stanford's Nick Taylor figure to challenge for honors in the heptathlon and decathlon, respectively, this weekend at the Pac-10 Multi Event Championships at Los Angeles.

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