Another June meet, another American record for Sue McDonald
Sue is insatiable. Her second W50 American record in the high jump this month came at Sunday’s USATF Western Regional Masters Championships at Caltech in Pasadena. Peter Hlavin, the M55 American record holder in the event, shared the video below, which I slowed down. You’ll note Sue’s runup wasn’t perfect. She appears to slow near the end and then speed up. So she has inches left in the tank. Congrats again to Super Sue! Now I’m awaiting a link to full results.
New record-holder Sue McDonald mulls her first masters nationals
Sue and kids.
Sue McDonald gets first goal: W50 American record in high jump
Sue McDonald
Wooohooo! I’m in Olathe finals of 100, 200, 400 hurdles and HJ
Or maybe not. With two days until the “on-time” deadline for Olathe masters nationals, the Status of Entries says I’m among only six or seven M55 entrants in the 1, 2 and 4H (I just coined that). I’m also set for a ribbon in the high jump, if fourth-place awards are given. Of course, others will trickle in. So my excitement is short-lived. My hurdling entry is another leap of faith. If I managed a lap over 33-inch hurdles at age 59, I’d be perhaps the oldest quarter-mile hurdler in the country. But the most I’ve run in practice is three sets of three 30-inch hurdles. So we shall see. But at least I have my confidence back more than six years after ACL-reconstruction surgery on my lead knee. In the meantime, what are everyone’s theories on the so-far low turnout at Olathe?
Mary Cain still not as fast as our best masters milers at Portland
Yeah, yeah. Mary Cain is the second coming of Mary Decker. No doubt Mary 2.0 will be a player at the world level, especially with Alberto Salazar as her coach. But on the same day (and track) that she added the 5K high school record to her portfolio, the masters mile winner cranked out a 4:22.52 — better than Mary’s 1500 best converted to a mile (4:24.19). Event organizer Dave Clingan reports from the Portland Track Festival: “Ian Gillespie (43) led most of the race, but was overtaken by Ahrlin Bauman (40) on the home stretch. Bauman ran 4:22.52, after running a 15:14.51 5000m the night before. Uli Steidl (41) finished third in 4:25.10, after running the 10000m the night before in 31:14.” Here’s the Flotrack video of the race.
Sonja Friend Uhl is favored in masters 3K at Portland Track Fest
Joanna Harper writes: “This year’s Portland Track Festival [this weekend] will feature another outstanding field in the master’s women’s 3000 meter race. Sonja Friend Uhl is the unquestioned star, but other outstanding runners like Grace Padilla, Carmen Troncoso, Tania Fischer, Kirsten Leetch, Cassandra Henkiel and Jeannie Groesz will make for quite a race. For those who can’t make it to Portland, the meet will be available on Flotrack.” (That means video of all races.)
Sonja at USA 20K Championships in New Haven, CT, in 2010.
Christa Bortignon crashes 6,000-point barrier in W75 heptathlon
Christel, Christa and Phil Raschker (right) at recent meet.
Christa is celebrated after smashing W75 heptathlon record in Germany.
Peter Hlavin ties Willie Banks’ USA record in M55 high jump
A 7-foot jumper at the University of Iowa, Peter Hlavin has made history at 6 feet — joining Willie Banks as the M55 American age-group record holder. He cleared 1.83 meters Saturday at the Pasadena Senior Games at Caltech. Even more amazing — it was his first 6-foot jump since 2008! But Willie remains the oldest American 6-footer, since Peter turned 55 on January 7 and Willie was 56 when he went 6. Peter was a walk-on at Iowa, but earned a scholarship his sophomore year. He competed against Noel Rubel, now a masters multi-eventer. Peter entered masters in 2007 at age 49 and says: “During my first week of coaching high jump at a local high school, I saw these kids jumping and said to myself ‘If they can do it, then so can I.’ I ordered high jump shoes that evening (Tuesday), the shoes arrived on Thursday, and I competed in my first meet that weekend. I made 5-4 (1.62m) and strained my hamstring too!” When I informed Willie of the new mark, he replied: “Fantastic! I know Pete, he is much deserving!” Fellow jumper Annelies Steekelenburg shot this delightful video:
Charlie Ross gets big M90 PR — another world steeple record
Not content to be the oldest human steeplechaser, Charlie Ross broke his own 2,000-meter record over the weekend, clocking 18:27.44 at the USATF Georgia Association Open and Masters Meet. (See results here.) He lowered his previous age-group WR in the 2K steeple of 18:54.10. And here’s a great series of photos from the May 18 debut record. Thanks to Don Burkett for sharing the news!
Charles Ross, 90, competes in the 2000 meter steeplechase at a Southeastern Masters track meet Saturday May 18, 2013, in Raleigh. Ross set a new world record for his age group for finishing the race. (Liz Condo photo)
American Record falls twice in the M50-59 shuttle hurdle relays
A friend graciously filed a report on a masters shuttle-hurdle relay record broken outside USATF masters nationals. He writes: “The M50-59 American Record was broken (twice) in the Shuttle Hurdle Relay on May 19 at the 7th Annual Gateway Games. (See results here.) There were two shuttle hurdle relay races—each race with two teams. The winning M50-59 mark was set in the first heat in a time of 1:03.15. The relay team consisted of Robert Stanley, Mark Williamson, Eugene Anton and Darnell Gatling setting the new record. The second heat consisting of Robert Stanley, Mark Williamson, Keith McQuitter and Darnell Gatling had a time of 1.03.25 which also broke the prior American Record of 1:04.29. Hurdlers journeyed from Massachusetts, California, Illinois, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Oklahoma to participate in the event.”
Hurdlers and organizer Jeff Davison (center top) involved in records.
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