Bob Burns reports in his daily news release from worlds: “Age-group world records were set Monday by Canada’s Ed Whitlock in the men’s 80-84 10,000 meters (42:39.95, beating his own incredible 42:59.16 from late June), Neni Lewis of the United States in the women’s 50-54 weight throw, Vladimir Porokhin of Russia in the men’s 75-79 javelin, and Marge Allison of Australia in the women’s 65-69 300-meter hurdles.” I witnessed none of this, since I was resting for my 200 heat tonight. (Took third in my race, battling a 3.3 mps headwind and clocking a respectable 28.93 in M55.) But I also had time to upload photos from previous days. Started a gallery of faces, and galleries of jumps and throws. Will augment as time allows.

Jim Barrineau is featured in photo gallery after M55 win over Willie Banks.

Here’s the press release from Bob:

July 10, 2011

Willie Banks gives it old college try at WMA Championships

The fifth day of the World Masters Athletics (WMA) Championships featured world records by a Canadian, Russian, Australian and an American.

It also featured a gritty performance by Willie Banks, the former world record in the triple jump who now, at 55, finds his spirit more willing than his legs. One of the track world’s most popular entertainers in the 1980s, Banks showed some of his old verve when he improved from fifth place to first in the final round of the M55 triple jump.

Banks came to Sacramento – where he won a Golden West Invitational title as a high school senior in 1974 and set his first American record at the 1981 U.S. Championships – feeling good about his chances.

“I’ve been training four or five times a week, feeling really good,” Banks said beforehand. “Maybe that’s too much for a guy my age.”

Maybe, but that’s a common thread in masters track, where injuries are part and parcel of the package. Banks tweaked his hamstring on a warm-up jump and struggled through the first five rounds, mired in fifth place. Unable to run at much more than a quick jog, he leapfrogged the field with a sixth-round jump of 40 feet, 4¾ inches. He emerged from the sand with a broad grin.

But on the final jump of the competition, the previous leader, Georg Werthner of Austria, answered the bell with a winning jump of 40-11½. It didn’t seem to matter much to Banks and the crowd of about 100 spectators in the east grandstands of Hornet Stadium. Banks posed for pictures and thanked the crowd of coming.

Werthner, no slouch himself as a younger athlete, having placed fourth in the 1980 Olympic decathlon, insisted on taking a picture of Banks with his cell phone.

“I couldn’t run, but I came here to compete, and that’s what I wanted to do,” Banks said. “I gave it the old (UCLA) Bruin try.”

The WMA Championships began July 6 and continue through Sunday, July 17. The biennial world track and field championships for athletes 35 and over features more than 4,800 entrants from 93 countries.

Age-group world records were set Monday by Canada’s Ed Whitlock in the men’s 80-84 10,000 meters, Neni Lewis of the United States in the women’s 50-54 weight throw, Vladimir Porokhin of Russia in the men’s 75-79 javelin, and Marge Allison of Australia in the women’s 65-69 300-meter hurdles.

Gary Schuler, a Folsom resident, won the men’s 35-39 high jump with a clearance of 6-5½, and Daniel Besmer of Rocklin won the men’s 45-49 pole vault with a winning height of 13-9¼.

For the WMA schedule and full results, visit www.wma2011.com.

Media contact:
Bob Burns
Sacramento Sports Commission
916-802-5841