Anselm LeBourne puts M55 indoor 1500 WR outtasight forever

Anselm was accorded kneel-by-sign honors.

Anselm was accorded kneel-by-sign honors.

Fred Profeta, upon learning that Anselm LeBourne had lowered his own M55 world indoor 1500 record by 6 seconds Sunday, posted on Anselm’s Facebook page: “Are you actually Benjamin Button?” No, he’s better. When Anselm gets younger, he keeps his good looks. As USATF reported, Anselm clocked 4:13.77 in the masters exhibition at Boston open nationals to lower his own pending WR of 4:19.80. (That’s equivalent to an open time of 3:31.2.) He took seventh in a race with men a decade or more younger. John Trautmann won in 3:59.47, falling just short of Tony Young’s listed M45 WR of 3:57.91. That makes four WRs for Anselm this season. Nice work. On her 40th birthday, Kathryn McManus won the masters 300 in 42.27 from a standing start and a super kick. In the kiddie events, 39-year-old Amy Acuff took second in the high jump, clearing 1.82 (5-11½), but short of the listed W35 indoor AR of 1.84 (6-0½) by Karol Ann Rovelto. And 36-year-old Alfred “A.G.” Kruger won the 35-pound weight throw at 23.41 (76-9¾), short of the listed M35 WR of 23.86 (78-3 1/2) by Lance Deal. In 13th was Timothy Morse at 19.83 (65-0¾), better known as Kyle and son of M50 thrower Tim Morse.

Here’s the USATF report from Boston:

BOSTON — A world record in the men’s 1500 meters highlighted two exciting Masters exhibition races Sunday at USATF Indoor Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center on the campus of Roxbury Community College.

Anselm LeBourne (Maplewood, New Jersey) ran 4:13.77 in the 1500 meters to break the previous M55 World Masters record of 4:21.94 set by Pierre Faucheur in 2010. LeBourne finished seventh overall and with great satisfaction.

With two laps to go, LeBourne convinced himself that he had come to far to give it up now.

“I just gave it all I had,” he said. “It’s so fun to run with these guys, guys like John Trautmann who have been in the Olympics. These guys motivate me. I’m the oldest guy in the race. I can’t ask for more. I’m really happy, and there is no substitute for hard work. You have to work hard and I’ll keep doing that.”

LeBourne currently holds the M55 age-group world records in the 800m (2:01.60), 1500m (4:19.80) and the mile (4:37.05)

Taking the title in the men’s exhibition event was 1992 Olympian in the 5,000m John Trautmann (Morristown, New Jersey), who finished today’s 1500m in 3:59.47 on his attempt to break the M45 World Masters record of 3:57.91 set by Tony Young in Boston in 2009.

“I wanted to get the record, and got out after it. I think I was on pace for maybe the first half, and then I kind of let it go a little bit in the third quarter,” said Trautmann. “I was tired; it’s tough. You know it’s a world record, and it’s great. I know Tony has it, and he set it in this meet. He did it, but I couldn’t match his feat. Hopefully I can keep trying.”

Four Masters women competed in 300m with Kathryn McManus (Mamoroneck, New York) claiming the first place finish in 42.27.

“I just tried to go as fast as I could,” said McManus, who celebrated her 40th birthday with the win. “I didn’t really have a race plan, per se. The track is so fast.The crowd was wonderful and it’s great to be celebrated here.”

Emmanuelle McGowan (Hanover Park, Illinois) was second in 42.68; Latrica Dendy (New York, New York) was third in 43.28 before Maurenena Walles (Jersey City, New Jersey) in fourth with her time of 44.62.

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March 1, 2015

10 Responses

  1. yves - March 2, 2015

    Equivalent 3.31 that means only some kenyans could run at this pace if they turn 55. I doubt they will keep running at 55. Hat off Mr Lebourne. Give me 1 min for a picture together at Lyon. Your race at Lyon will be just after mine I will have the great advantage to see you running.

  2. Bob Cedrone - March 2, 2015

    Kyle Morse is indeed the son of Tim Morse, but Tim is a Masters thrower in the M55-59 age division, not the M50-54 age division. Kyle is currently an Assistant Throws Coach at Indiana State University. Another interesting note – also competing in the Men’s Weight Throw event was Paul Wagner, the son of W55-59 thrower Janet Wagner.

  3. Ken Stone - March 2, 2015

    Thanks, Bob! Correction made.

  4. Ken Stone - March 2, 2015

    Here’s USATF.tv video of 1500:
    http://www.usatf.tv/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=45365&do=videos&video_id=135997

    Video of women’s 300:
    http://www.usatf.tv/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=45365&do=videos&video_id=136004

  5. Terry Ballou - March 2, 2015

    I was there to watch this race and it was outstanding. Congratulations, Anselm, you were inspiring to watch. And hats off to all the competitors, both the men and women had stacked fields and the crowd really appreciated how talented these masters runners are. Way to represent!

  6. Matt B. - March 2, 2015

    Outdoor record to follow no doubt- 4:10 or better- absolutely incredible

  7. Rick Easley - March 2, 2015

    I saw the video. What a shame that the announcer seemed totally unaware of Anselm’s age and the fact that he completely shattered the current world record for that age group. Maybe an over 50 race would be a good idea in the future.

  8. Robert Thomas - March 3, 2015

    I agree that it was a shame that the announcer on TV seemed totally unaware of Anselm accomplishments, but I think if you put together an over 50 race that Anselm would have the same problems that John had, running from the front with no help to push the pace. Anselm has been fortunate to find races where he is not the fastest in the field, just the fastest 55 year old in the race. I would have like to seen one or two rabbits help John through the first 800-1200 meters, then he may have had a chance.

  9. Mike Sliwa - March 3, 2015

    AL is just killing it this indoor season…incredible!

  10. kevin f forde - March 4, 2015

    Kudos to both John and Anselm but I would like to point out when Tony Young broke the World Rocord at the same meet in Boston in 2009 he did it running on his own out in front…..I should know I was a full 10 second behind him running a pr in second place!!!

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