N.C. indoor nationals boast 8 world records, 29 American records

W80 Christel Donley set a triple jump WR.

W80 Christel Donley set a triple jump AR.

Rob Jerome had a keen view of North Carolina nationals — behind a camera. And he gives the meet two thumbs up. “Everyone was very much in agreement that these nationals were exceptionally well-run,” he writes. “Events were on time and the officiating was great. Kudos to Mary Trotto, who made the suggestion, which was adopted, that the men’s and women’s pentathlon be divided into two groups each. This new approach certainly sped things along on Friday, and the lively pace continued for the next two days. The facility was excellent as well.” USATF counts eight world records and 29 American records at JDL Fast Track. Rob also writes: “Christel Donley had a busy morning — competing simultaneously in the high jump and triple jump. She also had a great result in the high jump at 1.05 meters.” Thanks for all his shots here and in recent days.

Irene Obera won all of her events and added to her W80 WRs by running the 800 in 4:49.74. Her old friend Alan Kolling displays a medal as well.

Irene Obera won all of her events and added to her W80 WRs by running the 800 in 4:49.74. Her old friend Alan Kolling displays a medal as well.

Rita and Karl with her open high jump height.

Rita and Karl with her open high jump height.

W60 Rita Hanscom stands by bar at the height she cleared — 1.33 meters — a little lower than her pentathlon HJ result, but impressive nonetheless since she injured her ankle in the pent. Karl Hawke, former world HJ champion and many times national champ, didn’t compete in Winston-Salem because of injuries but came to support his friends.

Here’s the USATF news blast for Sunday’s finale:

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina — After three days of competition at USATF Masters Indoor Championships, athletes generated 37 record-breaking performances over the weekend, including eight World Masters records and 29 American records at JDL Fast Track. All American and world records reported are pending until ratified.

With 87 teams competing and 78 scoring, the team championship title went to the Potomac Valley Track Club with a combined total of 682 points earned throughout all events held Friday through Sunday. Potomac Valley President Craig Chasse (Reston, Virginia) said “The Club’s motto is ‘All ages, all paces, all ways.’” PVTC last won the indoor national title in 2013, when the meet was held near the club’s home area of Landover, Maryland.

The second-place team was So Cal Track Club with 648 points, and the Atlanta Track Club was third with 424.5 points.

PVTC also organized the first-ever 90-plus relay teams in indoor track history, which set three world records by completing their races.

The M90 relay team of Orville Rogers (Dallas, Texas), Charles Ross (Rogers, Arkansas), Dixon Hemphill (Fairfax Station, Virginia) and Roy Englert (Springfield, Virginia) from the Potomac Valley Track Club set the final World Masters record of the weekend with a finish of 12:51.81 in the 4×400-meter relay. The team set WMRs in the 4×200 with a finish of 5:40.82 and in the 4×800 with a time of 29:47.68.

Sunday marked the third and final day of the meet, concluding with a single-day tally of seven American and two World records across three field events and six on the track.

In addition to the 90-plus 4x400m relay team’s Sunday world record, the M50 Atlanta Track Club team broke the second world record, clocking a 4:36.83.

Irene Obera (Fremont, California) competed in W80 events on all three days, as her streak continued to a career ninth AR and eighth WR over the weekend.

Christel jumped from one jump event to another.

Christel jumped from one jump event to another.

Obera set a Sunday AR in the 800m with her time of 4:49.74, which broke the previous record of 4:59.60 set by Sumi Onodera-Leonard in 2009.

On Saturday Obera became the first W80 to break 15 seconds in the 60m hurdles, clocking 13.76, and she highlighted the multi-events Friday when she set a WMR as the first ever woman over 80 to complete an indoor pentathlon. Obera finished all five events of the pentathlon with a combined total of 3,817 points, including American records in high jump (1.02m/3-4) and long jump (2.72m/8-11.25). Marks in multi-events also count as individual records.

Also on the final day of the meet, Myrle Mensey (St. Louis, Missouri) broke her own American W65 superweight throw record five times in five throws throughout the day’s competition with her best toss measuring 10.89m/35-8. Mensey’s existing record was 10.22m/33-6 set in February 2014. Her Sunday superweight throw mark is the second record she has broken at 2015 USATF Masters Indoors after Saturday throwing 9.26m/30-4.75 in the shot put to break the previous record of 9.25m/30-4.25.

Christel Donley (Colorado Springs, Colorado) set the W80 American triple jump record, leaping 5.71m/18-8.75 to surpass the existing 5.57m/18-3.25 set in 2006. Donley also broke the age group’s high jump record with a clearance of 1.05m/3-5.25. However she already has a pending record of 1.07m/3-6 set previously this year.

Maryanne Daniel (Clinton, Connecticut) broke an American W55 record, finishing in 16:12.61 ahead of her existing 16:14.01 from one year ago. “It feels great to break the record because it’s actually my own record,” said Daniel. “I’m beating my younger self, so that feels good. If you can get older and go faster, that gives me something to work for next year too.”

Other highlights from the weekend included World records from M70 Ty Brown (Washington, D.C.) in the 60mH with his time of 9.44 to break the existing record of 9.76, and M75 Kenton Brown (Austin, Texas) running 8.18, which was .02 faster than previous record of 8.20.

Kenton Brown (Austin, Texas) broke an M75 WMR in the 60m with his time of 8.18, finishing .02 faster than previous record of 8.20 set by American Robert Whilden in 2006.

The two remaining American records were broken in the 4x400m relays with the M85 team from the Potomac Valley Track Club finishing in 8:52.59, and the W60 SC Striders Track Club ‘A’ with their time of 5:39.49.

Below are World and American records set at 2015 USATF Masters Indoor Championships, March 20-22.

World Masters Records
M75 60m – Kenton Brown (8.18)
M70 60mH – Ty Brown (9.44)
W80 60mH – Irene Obera (13.76)
W80 60mH – Christel Donley (14.66)
W80 Pentathlon – Irene Obera (3,817 points)

Relays
M90 4×800 Club – Potomac Valley Track Club (29:47.68)
– Rogers, Ross, Englert, Hemphill
M90 4x400m Club – Potomac Valley Track Club (12:51.81)
– Rogers, Ross, Hemphill, Englert
M90 4x200m Club – Potomac Valley Track Club (5:40.82)
– Boyle, Rogers, Englert, Ross

American Masters Records
M90 Shot Put – George Riser (8.25)
M85 Weight Throw – John Poche (10.41m/34-2)
M75 Pole Vault – Don Isett (2.91m/9-6.2)
W80 WR/AM 60mH (14.66)
W80 800m – Irene Obera (4:49.74)
W80 High Jump – Christel Donley (1.05m/3-5.25)
W80 Long Jump – Irene Obera (2.71/8-10.75)
W80 Triple Jump – Christel Donley (5.71m/18-8.75)
W70 60m – Rose Green (10.82)
W70 Shot Put – Cyndy Wyatt (8.37m/27-5.5)
W65 Shot Put – Myrle Mensey (9.26m/30-4.75)
W 65 Superweight Throw – Myrle Mensey (10.89m/35-8)
W40 3,000m – Sonja Friend-Uhl (9:50.60)

Relays
M45 4x200m Club – Greater Philadelphia Track Club ‘A’ (1:41.71)
– Curtis, Luccarelli, Schwartz, Johnson
M45 4x200m Club – Potomac Valley Track Club ‘A’
– Chasse, Poulos, Mathis, Barr
M35 4×200 Club – 2nd MD Racing ‘A’ (1:36.50)
– Woodward, Melton, Phillips, Chambers
M35 4x200m Club – Southwest Sprinters Track Club ‘A’ (1:34.40)
– Thomas Jr, Millar, Sickerson, Dussett
M35 4x200m Club – TNT International Racing Club (2:15.97)
– Ransom, Tinsman, Lanier, Burke
W80 4x200m Club – Athena Track Club ‘A’ (2:09.47)
– Hoffman, Hayden, Haubrich, Bellaire
W65 4x200m Club – So Cal Track Club ‘A’ (3:10.85)
– Eichel, Michelsohn, Carmines, Backlund
W60 4x800m Non-Club – Unattached ‘A’ (12:12.46)
– Broad, Richards, Steinbach, Martin
W60 4x400m Club – SC Striders Track Club ‘A’ (5:39.49)
– Betty, Schaefer, Bowman, Hanscom, Kelly
W60 4x400m Club – SC Striders Track Club ‘A’ (5:39.49)
– Schaefer, Bowman, Hanscom, Kelly
W60 4x200m Non-Club (2:26.9)
– Broad, Martin, Steinbach, Richards
W60 4x200m Club – SC Striders Track Club (2:19.35)
– Barnes, Matthews, Schaefer, Kelly
W55 4x200m Club – Potomac Valley Track Club (2:39.42)
– Mayhugh, Draim, Blank, Phillips
W50 4x200m Club – SC Striders Track Club ‘A’ (2:08.08) –
– Scott, Palmer, Maxwell, Hancom
W40 4x200m Club – Carolinas Track Club ‘A’ (2:01.50)
– Sluder, Kazebee, Walker, Murphy
W35 4x200m Club – Southwest Sprinters Track Club ‘A’ (1:55.23)
– Dierduer, Readinger, Edwards, Dendy

Click here for complete results:

For highlights from the 2015 USATF Masters Indoor Championships, visit USATF.TV for on-demand videos.

Print Friendly

March 22, 2015

4 Responses

  1. Terry Parks - March 22, 2015

    Congratulations to everyone for three great days of competition. The last two meets in Winston-Salem were both well done. I believe that Irene and the 90 plus relays really inspired people because some of my non-track friends in North Carolina had heard about the meet.

  2. Alan Kolling - March 23, 2015

    Another terrific shot by Rob: Irene is so appreciative of his efforts on her behalf at the meet. She was thrilled with the new American record over the half, which she only undertook for the multi-event preparation. So pleased to see the great marks put up by Christel Donley who gives back so much to the sport, and is so supportive of Irene as well. And my unexpected silver medal in the relay was definitely a bonus to a great weekend.

  3. Cheryl - March 23, 2015

    ah we are W55 haha

  4. Ken Stone - April 9, 2015

    Gazillion photos from indoor nationals are posted here:
    http://coallenenterprises.smugmug.com/Sports/

    Scroll down the page a little bit to see day-by-day galleries.

Leave a Reply