Bernie Portenski’s answer to Kamloops: two milestone WRs

Kamloops can’t hog all the glory. Down in New Zealand, a 60-year-old lady known as Bernie instead of Bernardine has informed us of two stunning world outdoor records. As we noted two months ago, Bernie Portenski is in record shape. How good? On January 22, she ran an outdoor 3000 in 11:21.47, only 15 seconds off the listed WR. Just warming up, folks. On February 21, she ran a track 5K in 18:51.13 at Newtown Park at the Wellington Masters 2-day meeting to smash one of the oldest records on the books: 19:14.8 by Sister Marion Irvine in 1989. Then on February 28, in windy conditions, she ran the 10K in 39:04.23 to demolish the listed WR of 39:21.1 by Australia’s Theresia Baird in 2001. So there. “Bernie is now aiming to break world records in the Christchurch Half Marathon in June, then crossing to Australia aiming to break the world record (3:14:50) in the Gold Coast Marathon in July,” writes Peter Horan from Down Under.

Phototimer shot shows Bernie (center) at end of 10K world record.

Actually, Carmel Papworth-Barnum scooped us on the 10K record. She reported this a week ago on her blog. But I wanted to see the marks online.

So Bernie sent me these results sheets. (So now the results are online.)

Bernie averaged around 6:05 a mile in her 5K and 6:20 for her 10K. Incredible.

Now just cross your fingers and toes that record authorities ratify her historic marks.

Nice runs, Bernie! Stay healthy down there.