Marie Kay indoor world records get major ink Down Under
Down Under, they have the coolest place names. The city of Wollongong in New South Wales (on Australia’s southeast coast) is one of them. And its top female masters athlete may be W45 sprinter Marie Kay. And cool is what you call the haul of medals she brought home from Clermont-Ferrand worlds. Her local paper last week ran a summary of her world-record exploits, which puts her in the running for IAAF Masters Athlete of the Year honors at the end of 2008.
Here’s the whole article, in case the link goes south:
Kay grabs more medals
By MIKE GANDON
Wollongong athlete Marie Kay has added more gold and silver to her already impressive treasure trove of medals with a successful campaign at the 2008 World Masters Athletic Indoor Championships in France.
Kay, who boasts a long list of achievements, including the Australian Masters Athletics 2007 Outstanding Individual Performance Award, broke three world records in her category in winning three gold medals in the women’s under 45 200m, 400m and long jump at Clermont-Ferrand.
Kay clocked 25.99 to break the world record in winning her heat in the 200m and bettered that time with 25.85 in the final.
In the 400m, as defending world champion and record holder, she smashed her own world record of 59.16 with a superb run of 56.99 in the final. Kay set an Australian record of 5.57m in a successful defence of her long jump title.
She was also a member of the 4x200m relay team in the women’s 40 category, which claimed the silver medal behind France.
Kay said she could not have achieved these results without the support of her family, friends, sponsors and especially her coach, Noreen Parrish.
While the two women were in France, Parrish became the recipient of Athletics Wollongong’s Masters athlete of the year award.
“I thank Noreen for all her time, knowledge, encouragement, dedication and belief that I can achieve almost anything I put my mind to,” Kay said.
“She really is an inspiration.”
2 Responses
CONGRATULATIONS Marie Kay!!! You’re an amazing athlete and it’s so much fun to watch you compete. Hope to see you October 2009.
Wow! It’s so nice to be able to tell everyone that I know a celebrity! Way to go Marie Kay!
linda 🙂
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