In January 1975, a gentleman from Van Nuys traveled a couple hours east to a Southern California resort and triple-jumped 41 feet, 5 inches (12.62 meters). Unless you knew his age, you wouldn’t think much. But at age 57, he was hailed as a masters Bob Beamon. David Pain’s USMITT newsletter reported: “One of the top Masters performances ever occurred Jan. 18 in Palm Desert, Calif. In the light desert air, Gordon Farrell triple jumped a prodigious 41-5, easily an age-57 best. … You have to go back to age 43 to find a better effort.” It was an M55 world record that stood for 14 years — until Finland’s Olavi Niemi beat it by one centimeter. Why bring this up now? Sunday at Jacksonville nationals, Anthony Bailey of Alpharetta, Georgia, triple-jumped 12.76 (41-10 1/2) to finally displace Gordon’s American age-group record. Let that sink in. The record held for 40 years! USATF’s news release didn’t mention Anthony’s mark until 11 paragraphs into the Day 4 report.

Gordon was born in November 1917, so if he’s still alive, he’d be 97. Would be nice to hear his reaction.

Also Sunday, the M60 4-by-800 team of David Schmanski, Horace Grant, Stephen Chantry and George Haywood ran 9:30.92 to beat the listed WR by three seconds. A Dutch team ran 9:33.95 in 1992.

It was 10 years ago, at Hawaii masters nationals, that Stephen helped set the M50 American record of 8:40.32. So welcome back, SC. Great work, guys!

Here’s the USATF news release on Day 4:

JACKSONVILLE — The 2015 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships officially came to an end on Sunday at Hodges Field on the campus of the University of North Florida. Despite the scorching heat all week long, American and world records were broken and memories were made, but the most recognizable feat won’t be remembered on a record sheet.

Spectators were reminded once again how powerful the spirit of sports can be. After watching 98-year-old Champion Goldy, Sr. (Haddonfield, New Jersey) compete, it didn’t take long to figure out how contagious his attitude and love of the sport was.

Never complaining of fatigue, soreness or heat ever came from the most experienced competitor in the field on the last day of competition. The seasoned veteran competed in the throws Sunday, tossing a mark of 11.27m/36-11.75 in the javelin and 5.45m/17-10 in the weight throw.

There is no better example of a USATF Masters Outdoor champion than that of the man referred to as ‘Champ’.

After all events of the 2015 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships, So Cal Track Club was the winner of the Club Team standings with 693 points. It is the 15th overall national title for So Cal Track Club.

The top five were Atlanta Track Club – 685, TNT International Racing Club – 416, Potomac Valley Track Club – 401 and SC Striders Track Club – 323.

The M60 4x800m relay featured a team that surpassed a record time held for nearly a quarter of a century. The team of David Schmanski (Goodlettsville, Tennessee), Horace Grant (Houston, Texas), Stephen Chantry (Williamsburg, Virginia) and George Haywood (Washington, D.C.) ran 9:30.92 to break the previous record pending ratification.

The 400mH finals provided great performances to start the final day. Jermaine Wade (Madison, Alabama) ran the top overall time to win the M30 age group in 56.62 and Tim Moore (Montgomery, Alabama) was on his heels in second place at 58.45.

Laurent Birade (Bellingham, Washington) didn’t hold anything back against the M45 field coming in around eight seconds ahead of second place in 59.83.

Kimberly Touya (Patchogue, New York) turned in the triple jump performance of the day, leaping 9.85m/32-4.75 on her final attempt.

Anthony Bailey (Alpharetta, Georgia) claimed a pending American record in the M55 triple jump with his winning mark of 12.76m/41-10.50.

Four members from the 1961 Illinois state champion cross country team from Highland Park (IL) High School reunited Sunday for the 4x800m relay, crossing in 18:39.29. One member of the relay, Ron Joseph (Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida), won an Olympic bronze medal in pairs skating with his sister, Vivian, in 1964.

Day 3 concluded with 2,000m and 3,000m steeplechase finals in the second session, as well as 200-meter preliminaries Saturday with finals set for Sunday.

Stirley Jones, Jr. (San Clemente, California) had by far the most dominant performance as he was able to get out in front on the opening curve into the straightaway in the second heat of the M30 200m. With a more than comfortable lead down the stretch, Jones ended up with the top overall time of 21.46.

Jones, Jr. advanced his dominance into Sunday’s final knocking off half of a second with the fastest time of the weekend at 21.06.

Sean Burnett (Atlanta, Georgia) was able to hold off Tim Moore (Montgomery, Alabama) in the M30 final with times of 21.72 and 22.15, respectively.

World champion Antwon Dussett (Peoria, Illinois) had the top time in the M35 200m final at 21.73 with Xzavier Chisolm (Mint Hill, North Carolina) finishing as the runner-up in 22.17.

Jeffery Mack (Clearwater, Florida) was the only sub-23 performer in the M40 preliminaries and the finals, as he ran away with a winning time of 22.69 in the finals.

Andre Millar (New York, New York) came across in 23.08 in for second and Blair DeSio (Montgomery, Alabama) came across behind him in 23.25. DeSio had one of the more remarkable finishes in the M40 preliminaries, coming from behind in the final 50 meters to surpass three competitors and qualify for the final.

Don McGee (Clinton, Maryland) had the top time from the first heat of preliminaries at 24.45 and went on to win the M55 finals at 24.08. Herb Mckenley came in just behind McGee at 24.43.

William Yelverton (Murfreesboro, Tennessee) won the second M55 heat in 24.61 and Rudolph Briscoe (Kissimmee, Florida) took the third heat with a time of 25.04. Yelverton and Briscoe finished third and fourth in the finals, respectively.

In the M30-49 3,000-meter steeplechase, Sesar Figueroa (Baytown, Texas) took ahold of the lead early and led wire-to-wire, winning in 10:24.45.

An American record in the M55 3,000-meter race walk was set Saturday, as Ian Whatley (Greer, South Carolina) posted the new record at 14:24.53.

Results from the entire competition can be viewed here.

The USATF Masters Outdoor Championships can be seen on demand on USATF.TV. Action concludes Sunday, July 26.