Tom Bernhard claims M60 American 5000 record in track time trial

Tom Bernhard

An obscure blog for the Strawberry Canyon Track Club reports an M60 American record in the track 5K at (apparently) the University of California at Berkeley on August 31, 2011: “In tow was an even more remarkable performance turned in by NB Excelsior runner Tom Bernhard, who popped a 17:06 at the tender age of 60 years old!! This would be an American track record by 12 seconds if it were ratified. Hanging on to the Tim and Tom train was Keith Gilmore with a mark of 17:09, which he netted despite a very fast first half of the race.” Of course, a time trial is probably not USATF-sanctioned, and not eligible for record consideration. But yowza! The listed American record is 17:19.0 by Clive Davies in 1980. (The listed WR is 16:12.57.)

Print Friendly

September 6, 2011

10 Responses

  1. Tom Bernhard - September 7, 2011

    Ken,

    The run referred to in the Strawberry Canyon was legit but totally unofficial. After a terrible 5000m at Worlds and a 17:22.8 in Berea (in the rain), I just wanted an opportunity to run a fast 5000m under good conditions.
    Photo at:
    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150278497046638&set=p.10150278497046638&type=1#!/photo.php?fbid=10150278497046638&set=p.10150278497046638&type=1&theater

    I’m the old guy in the red singlet.

  2. Jeff Mann - September 7, 2011

    Nice job Tom. Too far away for me to get to on a weekday.

    Jeff

  3. Tom Hartshorne - September 8, 2011

    Tom’s superb 5,000 meter run follows a equally superb 7th place finish in the M55 Worlds at Sacto where Tom hit the unbelievable time of 4:35.48 for a 95.32% age-grading. Tom, I believe had already turned the clock to 60 when he competed against us youngsters and still kicked my 57 year old butt (I was only 3 places behind in 10th but a full 10 seconds off his time).

  4. peter taylor - September 8, 2011

    Yes, Tom Hartshorne, you are right again. Tom Bernhard (pronounced Bernard as in St. Bernard) makes the young boys pay whenever he laces up the shoes. He is already a star, and if he keeps this up I will call him an emerging superstar when he takes to the track in the 3000 at Bloomington (our indoor nationals next March).

    If he skips that meet, I will call him an emerging superstar when he goes to the line in Lisle (August 2012 outdoors). Haven’t been chosen for that one, however (I am a definite for Bloomington).

  5. Tom Bernhard - September 8, 2011

    Tom and Pete, thank-you for the kind words. If I’m healthy and fit I hope to make my indoor debut in Ithaca in Jan. and then go after the M60-64 indoor 3000m AR in Bloomington come March.

  6. peter taylor - September 8, 2011

    Tom, then I will see you in January in Ithaca (I am also a definite for that one). One thing I really appreciate about you is that you are not a creeper — you run high like some of the great 800 runners.

    In some ways you remind me of a younger Earl Fee (The Great Earl).

  7. bf - September 10, 2011

    Isn’t the M60 AR 16:52.0? (Jim O’Neil at 1985
    W.V.Ch in Rome). If so, 26 years ain’t bad for
    a US masters record to stand. And his 10K record
    from that year (34:27) is even more impressive (=
    two 17:13s!!)

  8. peter taylor - September 11, 2011

    My copy of Masters Age Records (2002 edition) indicates that the single-age record in the 5000 for age 60 is 16:52.0 by a James O’Neil of California.

    According to the book, Jim set the mark on June 25, 1985. Oh, well, I guess masters T&F decided not to accept it as an M60 American mark. Too bad.

  9. Tom Bernhard - September 11, 2011

    Jim O’Neil’s 16:52 is listed on Martin Gasselsberger’s site –

    http://www.mastersathletics.net/

    so I was aware of it, but the 10,000 time (34:37) is not. Where is it listed?

  10. bf - September 11, 2011

    34:27 was a road time, Aug.1985 at Alameda,Ca.(‘Run for the Parks’). (A ratified course?..)

Leave a Reply