Kenyan clobbers own W35 record in the 5,000
Does Kenya have masters track? It certainly has masters-age track stars. Friday night, a day before 22-year-old Meseret Defar of Ethiopia set the world record in the open 5,000 in 14:24.53 in New York, Kenya’s Edith Masai (born April 4, 1967) lowered her own W35 world record for the same event in Oslo, Norway. Edith ran 3.1 miles in 14:33.84 — or about 4:40 mile pace. You don’t want to know how that time age-grades. Oh, all right. I’ll tell you. Edith’s 5K is equivalent to an open (20-30) time of 14:05.53. Incredible.
Edith’s latest amazing mark came at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games, an IAAF money meet. In other words, it’s a legit time in a legit meet. And if she fails to get record ratification from World Masters Athletics due to a lack of “paperwork,” I think WMA should be disbanded.
Edith bettered the listed WMA W35 world record of 15:11.28 by Lynn Jennings in 1995 (which, of course, is inferior to the W35 mark of 14.45.35 by fellow American Regina Jacobs and Edith’s own 2004 mark of 14:42.64.)
Here’s how Bob Ramsak of Race Results Weekly described Edith’s race:
OSLO (02-Jun) — Tirunesh Dibaba’s powerful win in the women’s 5000 meters and Isaac Songok’s upset victory over Kenenisa Bekele in the men’s race at the same distance generated the distance highlights at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games, the first stop of the six-meet IAAF Golden League series, which was held in cool conditions.
When pacemaker Olga Komyagina dropped out 2200 meters into the race, Dibaba took over to do much of the work herself, reaching the 3000 meter point in 8:43.18. Briefly exchanging the lead with Kenyan Edith Masai over the next few laps, the Kenyan took control with three laps to go, but didn’t manage to shake the five women chasing her. Dibaba made her final move at the bell with older sister Ejegayehu giving chase. But the younger Dibaba’s extraordinary 57.98 final 400m turned the final lap into a battle for second.
Dibaba reached the line in 14:30.40, a personal best and the eighth fastest performance ever. Sister Ejegayehu held on for second in 14:33.52 while in third, Masai, at 39 years of age, lowered her own Kenyan record to 14:33.84. In all, seven of the first nine women ran to personal bests.
Me again:
WMA may be asleep at the wheel, but not Martin Rix, who within 24 hours already listed Edith’s mark as a masters age-group record.
Meanwhile, the most recent record “news” on the WMA site is dated Jan. 7, 2006: “Gerald Vaughn breaks indoor and outdoor M70 Shot Put”
One Response
The question is if these women were drug tested would they be clean. When the big money is on the line many of these folks head for the EPo and other performance inhancing drugs–Ken you state that Regina’s time was superior to Lynn Jennings–but we know that Regina was busted and banned–most of us that know distance running think she was dirty for at least the last 5 years of her running career–I know suzi Hamilton wanted to sue her in civil court for all the title she stole–and all the potential endorsements it cost her–so we might want to think about madatory drug testing for anyone who breaks a Masters World record especially the records smashers that go way beyond what has been done. Another example Eddie Hollabuck set a 1/2 Marathon and Marathon record two weekends back to back and appered on the cover of USATF magazine as the LDR Masters runner of the year only to be busted after his 4th place finish at the last Olympic Trials–he took thousands of dollars out of a team mate of mine’s pocket over a 3 year period—so don’t be so hasty to hand out those records–USATF wond up with egg on their face within months of putting Eddie cheater Hallabuck on the cover of their National publication.
Leave a Reply