Altitude helps ABQ elevate 13 world indoor masters records

Ty Brown's M70 WR at 200 beat world champions Steve Robbins and Roger Pierce. Rob Jerome photo

Ty Brown’s M70 AR at 200 beat world champions Steve Robbins and Roger Pierce. Rob Jerome photo

Parts of Albuquerque are exactly a mile high (5,280 feet). And like the famed 1968 Mexico City Games, the thinner air had a dramatic impact on the record books, especially in the sprints and jumps. Maybe the throws, too. Organizers of ABQ nationals also did the right thing Sunday by redoing 4×2 relays from Saturday that produced apparent world and American records but weren’t contested with proper staggers. Especially notable was Southwest Sprinters TC lowering their own pending 4×4 WR for M50 but with two different legs. The only nonsprint track event that saw a WR was M95 Orville Rogers’ 16:32.19 for 1500 meters — the first time anyone in his age group did that event indoors. So he’d probably be a lot faster at sea level. USATF’s Athlete of the Week will likely go to Kathy Bergen or Bill Collins — both setting a pair of WRs. And Joy Upshaw set a WR and two American records. They all deserve it.

New M50 world record holders in the 4x4. Rob Jerome photo

New M50 world record holders in the 4×4, who broke own team’s WR. Rob Jerome photo

Here’s Christa Mann’s latest USATF summary from nationals.

Bill Collins was the symbol of the lifetime fitness in Masters track & field, when he became the first man over age 65 to break the 25-second barrier — a major mark — in the 200 meters on Sunday during the third and final day of competition at USATF Masters Indoor Championships at the Albuquerque Albuquerque Convention Center.

Bill Collins, 65, beats buddy Charles Allie, 68, to set M65 WR of 24.94  at 200. Charlie held the listed WR of 25.41.

Bill Collins, 65, beats buddy Charles Allie, 68, to set M65 WR of 24.94 at 200. Charlie held the listed WR of 25.41.

Collins, who recently recovered from Guillain-Barré syndrome, set an M65 World Masters record of 24.94, taking down Charlie Allie’s 25.41 set in 2013. Collins now owns age group, 200m WRs in four age categories and has American Masters 200m records in six age groups, spanning six decades.

During the three-day meet, Masters athletes combined for a total of 43 records, including 13 World age group marks and 30 American Masters records.

A repeat record breaker on Day 3, Joy Upshaw broke the world record in a second event for W55 record, on Sunday running 27.51 in the 200m for an age group AR. M70 TY Brown had his second record sprint performance of the meet, when he ran a 27.03 age group AR in the 200m.

In field events, David Montieth broke the M70 high jump mark when he cleared 1.50m, and M55 Anthony Bailey broke the triple jump AR after leaping 12.81 and hitting 12.90 on his best attempt. The previous AR was 11.68 set by Donald Watson in ABQ in 2011.

New American record holders in the W40 4x400. Rob Jerome photo

New American record holders in the W40 4Ă—400. Rob Jerome photo

The rerun of 4x200m relays (the previous day had mismarked the passing zone) produced two World and one American record. The M50 Southwest Sprinters Track Club team of James Lawson, Marcus Shute, Sr., Francois Boda and David James finished with an age group WR of 1:34.64, and the M55 unattached team of Don McGee, James Chinn, Ben James and William Yelverton combined efforts for a 1:40.22 best in the world finish. An AR in the women’s 4×200 went down after Susan Lloyd, Lesley Chaplin, Julie Hayden and Vicki Fox finished in 2:07.91

In the 4x400m relays, the W40 unattached team of Sonja Friend-Uhl, Christine Gentile, Maurelhena Walles and Emma McGowan broke an age group WR of 4:04.72 before the W35 HD Masters team of Julian Reynolds, Katrina DeBoer, Nickay Penado and Tyrona Heath also accomplished the same feat in 4:05.13.

In the men’s 4×400, the M50 Southwest Sprinters Track Club team of James Lawson, Francois Boda, Marcus Shute, Sr., and David Jones ran a world record-breaking 3:39.27.

On the final day of competition SoCal Track Club won the team award, followed by Southwest Sprinters Track Club in second, and the Potomac Valley Track Club in third. The top-three teams won trophies.

New world record holders in the W45 4x400. Rob Jerome photo

New world record holders in the W45 4Ă—400. Rob Jerome photo

Watch highlights from USATF Masters Indoor Championships on-demand on USATF.TV.

View results here.

MEET WORLD AND AMERICAN RECORDS SUMMARY

World Records (13)

Burke, Ed M75 Weight Throw 19.38
Bergen, Kathy W75 60 9.49
Collins, Bill M65 60 7.69
Rogers, Orville M95 1500 16:32.19
Bergen, Kathy W75 High Jump 1.25
Brown, Ty M70 60 8.11
Upshaw, Joy W55 60 Hurdles 9.71
Collins, Bill M65 200 24.94
Non-Club M55 4Ă—200 1:40.22
Southwest Sprinters M50 4Ă—200 1:34.64
Non-Club W40 4Ă—400 4:03.72
HD Masters W35 4Ă—400 4:05.13
Southwest Sprinters M50 4Ă—400 3:39.27
American Records (30)
(*) Indicates American records that also serve as World records.

Burke, Ed M75 Weight Throw 19.38*
Bergen, Kathy W75 60 9.49*
Collins, Bill M65 60 7.69*
Rogers, Orville M95 1500 16:32.19*
Bergen, Kathy W75 High Jump 1.25*
Brown, Ty M70 60 8.11*
Upshaw, Joy W55 60 Hurdles 9.71*
Collins, Bill M65 200 24.94*
Non-Club M55 4Ă—200 1:40.22*
Southwest Sprinters M50 4Ă—200 1:34.64*
Non-Club W40 4Ă—400 4:03.72*
HD Masters W35 4Ă—400 4:05.13*
Southwest Sprinters M50 4Ă—400 3:39.27*
Burke, Ed M75 Superweight 10.59
Guest, Rachel W40 Pentathlon 3737
Dussett, Antwon M40 400 49.32
Roman, Mary W80 Shot Put 7.84
Mensey, Myrle W65 Superweight 11.06
Upshaw, Joy W55 60 8.48
Mensey, Myrle W65 Shot Put 9.36
Marriott, Joanne W75 Weight Throw 11.77
Marriott, Joanne W75 Superweight 7.72
Roman, Mary W80 Superweight 6.38
Torbert, Quenton M60 Shot Put 15.94
Pye, Derek M45 60 Hurdles 8.16
Brown, Ty M70 200 27.03
Upshaw, Joy W55 200 27.51
Bailey, Anthony M55 Triple Jump 12.90
Montieth, David M70 High Jump 1.50
Non-Club W55 4Ă—200 2:07.91
Non-Club W70 4Ă—200 3:09.45
Non-Club M65 4Ă—200 2:03.61
Southwest Sprinters W40 4Ă—400 4:04.97

Quotes

Bill Collins
“I owe a lot to my teammate Charles Allie. I wasn’t feeling well this morning and he told me to just relax and run, and I was really nervous getting on the track because I really wasn’t feeling well. He took off so well, and with me reacting to him, it just put me in speed mode and I just ran really well. It’s an honor. It really is. Sometime you think you’re just doing it by yourself, but it takes other people in the race sometimes to help you.”

“It means a lot. It’s contributed to a lot of hard work, a lot of perseverance and I thank God everyday for waking me up and giving me the ability. I’m hoping I can inspire people to come on and do this.”

Anthony Bailey
“It went very well. I didn’t come here to break the record. I just came to jump well. On my first jump, I guess I broke it and that was good.”

“That wasn’t the goal. I didn’t have the record in mind. That was just something that happened. Because when you come in thinking record, sometimes you don’t do well.”

“It feels good. The record has been there for awhile. So to break it, for me, it’s an honor.”

W55 Joy Upshaw sets AR in 200 — her third record of the meet.

W55 Joy Upshaw sets AR in 200 — her third record of the meet.

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March 7, 2016

13 Responses

  1. wayne bennett - March 7, 2016

    Over all a very good meet. What a privilege it is to be able to compete at this kind of meet and associate with these great athletes. They are all so humble and readily acknowledge us not so great performers. Proud to be a part of this sport.

  2. Jeff Davison - March 7, 2016

    To all the record setters …. well done!

  3. Alan Kolling - March 7, 2016

    I agree with Ken, those three great sprinters are all very deserving of the AOW award, with a special shout-out to Joy U who has helped so many others with their hurdling technique, including Irene O. But if I had a vote, it would go to Kathy B whose many great performances in the past haven’t yet earned her that special recognition. Just saying . . .

  4. Curt Morgan - March 7, 2016

    I know both Browns fly by so fast as to defy positive ID…but ain’t that Ty (and not Kenton) in first photo caption?

  5. Peter L. Taylor - March 7, 2016

    Yes, that’s Ty Brown. I see that I missed Joy’s AIR in the 200. Unfortunately, they put me in a place where I couldn’t see the times. I thought, however, that I asked about Joy’s time — I must have been given the wrong one.

  6. Kenton brown - March 7, 2016

    I really don’t mind having us mixed up. He’s a great guy and athlete and gracious enough to give me a sought out tip on block placement on the inclined oval before our 200m final.

  7. Ken Stone - March 8, 2016

    My apologies for brain cramp on Ty vs. Kenton. Caption is fixed. Keep sending me clarifying notes!

  8. Mike Sullivan - March 8, 2016

    Great job with the mens 50… 4 x 400
    Sully

  9. Maurelhena - March 8, 2016

    Hi Ken,

    Thanks for your great coverage of all the events and highlights. Our relay (Sonja, Maurelhena, Christine and Emma) broke the Women’s 40 4×400 record. We ran in the non-club division.

  10. Curiousminds - March 8, 2016

    So there were no timing discrepancies at the meet? No timing problems at all? What are the facts?

  11. Robert Fowler - March 8, 2016

    This was my first time attending an indoor meet; really enjoyed seeing and participating.

  12. Jerry Bookin-Weiner - March 9, 2016

    This curious mind wants to know why the mysterious “Curiousminds” thinks there might have been timing discrepancies at the meet. The issues that arose in 2011 have been resolved by an entirely new system for selecting the timing company and by having backup systems in place. There is no reason for such gratuitous comments. There were simply some tremendous performances in the shorter races that were, no doubt, helped by Albuquerque’s 5000’+ altitude.

  13. Peter Hlavn - March 13, 2016

    Congrats to all! Special congrats to Kathy Bergen – she ties the high jump WR and then minutes later breaks the WR. You don’t see that everyday!

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