Masters chivalry, bravery noted at Reebok Games
When you ask Jeff Hartwig to jump, the 39-year-old vault champ says, “How high?” That also applies to his willingness to help fellow jumpers. Today at the Boston Reebok Indoor Games (site of indoor masters nationals), Australia’s Steven Hooker showed up without his poles (they were lost in transit). So Jeff lent him his and Steven cleared a national record 5.81m/19-0.75 in his first ever indoor meet. “It’s the second time I’ve used Jeff’s poles and beat him,” Hooker told USATF. “But he’s won a lot more than me.” Hartwig took third at 5.51m/18-1. Also, 1996 Olympian and Massachusetts native Mark Coogan, 40, won the masters exhibition mile in 4:24.71.
Results of the masters mile are here:
1 Mark Coogan New Balance 4:24.71
2 Kent Lemme Greater Spri 4:28.67
3 Doug Martyn Whirlaway Ra 4:29.63
4 Jason Cakouros HFC Striders 4:30.28
5 Mike Cooney Whirlaway Ra 4:34.46
6 Norm Bouthillier Whirlaway Ra 4:37.81
7 Bruce Davie Greater Boston 4:38.10
8 Terry McNatt Cambridge Sp 4:38.88
9 Paul Hammond Whirlaway Ra 4:39.96
10 Bob Collins BAA 4:41.03
11 Tom Smith Unattached 4:47.09
And the “bravery” part from this entry’s headline?
Michelle Freeman of Jamaica, at 37 the oldest in the field, was last in the women’s 60-meter hurdles in 8.41 seconds.
But Michelle is still making a comeback from a terrible, tragic accident as described by the IAAF a year ago:
Early on the morning of December 26, 2002, Freeman was driving a sports utility vehicle on Florida’s Interstate 10, just east of Jacksonville, when it veered out of control, before flipping several times. The accident took the life of her mother, Muriel Wallace, and her close friend Ilrey (Oliver) Sparks, a University of Texas Academic Counsellor and a 1984 Olympian for Jamaica. The university’s head women’s coach and Freeman’s mentor, Bev Kearney, was also seriously injured in the accident. In a few fleeting moments, the joy of a holiday season trip turned into gut-wrenching tragedy.
“It took a little while to come back after something like that,” Freeman said. “When you’re involved in something of that magnitude, it’s so difficult. It ripped me apart.”
While losing her mother was devastating, Freeman said she found comfort and solace in Kearney’s survival and recovery. “My mother passed away,” she said, “but I got a second mom. Bev Kearney is like my second mom. She’s there with me through thick and thin.”
So God bless Jeff and Michelle. You’re heroes even if you don’t win.
One Response
Welcome Mark to the Masters ranks. A solid name from the past running my favorite distance!
tony
Leave a Reply