Burke, Platts break records at USATF Masters Throws Nationals

Despite heavy rains and blustery winds — with trees crashing down around them — organizers of the USATF National Masters Throws Championships saw four national records set over the weekend in Seattle. (See results here.) “Overall it was an excellent event,” said Lance Neubauer, who served as co-meet director with former national masters chairman George Mathews. “We were not without our issues, like a new 56 lb and 98 lb equipment we planned to use not showing up until Monday. After a record setting number of days over 70 and 80 and no rain this summer, we got blasted over the weekend. We were grateful it was not constant rain. On Saturday, it would blow, then settle down, rain, then sun out, back to rain, sun. On Sunday, the same thing without the high winds.” Lance also sent a report detailing records set by M75 legend Ed Burke and M85 
William Platts. Burke and W55 star Carol Finsrud both won $300 as top scorers.

Jim Burgoyne posted this shot of M50-59 throwers on a rainy Seattle weekend.

Jim Burgoyne posted this shot of M50-59 throwers on a rainy Seattle weekend.

Lance sent this report:

USATF Masters Weight Pentathlon, Super Weight and Ultra Weight Pentathlon

The completion was contested under blustery wind, very strong at times, rain, heavy at times and sun. It was a typical November storm in August with 1.25 inches in a 24 hour period Saturday. We had trees crashing down around us but no thunder or lighting, so the athletes kept on competing at a high level.

The Sports Medicine Mobile clinic onsite saved the day for our computers and paperwork.

John Seto was on hand to assist with the new meet scoring software, which made our much job easier.

Once again the USATF Pacific Northwest Certified Officials were on hand and did a fantastic job keeping the meet moving is less than optimal conditions.

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) was onsite to preform random testing of athletes; they were polite and professional.

Legendary University of Washington track Coach Ken Shannon was on hand to watch his son Tim.

Saturday night’s banquet was held across the parking lot from the West Seattle Stadium at the golf course banquet room. The food was great and the banquet was well attended by athletes and officials.

Jerry Bookin-Weiner, USATF Masters Committee Throws Chairman, was on hand to present the following awards.

  • The Lad Pataki Award For lifetime achievement as a Masters Thrower: 
Edward Burke
  • The Ken Weinbel Award For Contributions to the Masters Throwing Community: 
John Seto
  • The Tom Gage Award for the Masters Thrower of the Year
: John Goldhammer, 2nd year in a row

Meet Summary:
Four USATF Records Broken.

Three separate records – Burke broke the weight throw record twice.

Saturday – Throws Pentathlon

M86 Throws Pentathlon 
William S Platts M87 – 4357 (old record 3808 – Harvey Lewellen 8/13/014)

M75 – 16# Weight Throw record (note he broke his own record again on Sunday)
Edward Burke M75 18.53 –( Weight Throw (16 lbs.) 18.25 m (59’10”) Bob Ward (75) Eugene, OR 2008-Aug-03)

Sunday – Ultra Weight Pentathlon
M75 Ultra Weight Pentathlon

Edward Burke M75 – 5020 (old record 4853 – Bob Ward 8/23/2009)

M75 – 16lb Weight Throw record (broke his record from Saturday) 
Edward Burke M75 19.76 (Edward Burke M75 18.53 8/29/2015* not ratified) (old record 4853 – Bob Ward 8/23/2009)

M75 – 35lb Superweight Throw record
Edward Burke M75 – 10.42  (Superweight Throw (35 lbs.) 9.96 m (32’8″) Bob Ward  (75) Seattle, WA 2008-Sep-05)

Top Score Awards – $$ Prize Winners ($300, $200, $100) for Female and Male top three scores each day. Thanks to the Chapman Foundation.

Throws Pentathlon

Female:
First: Carol Finsrud W58 – 3979

Second: Joan Stratton W63 – 3407

Third: Ruth Welding W59 – 2891

Male:
First Edward Burke M75 – 4760

Second: William Platts M87 – 4357

Third: Phil Shipp M80 – 4310

Ultra Weight Pentathlon

Female: 
First: Carol Finsrud W58 – 3788

Second: Joan Stratton W63 – 3395

Third: Ruth Welding W59 – 3326

Male: 
First: Edward Burke M75 – 5020

Second: Eric Cole M45 – 4303

Third: John Wirtz – M46 – 4286

Throws Pentathlon Champions

M40 – Mark Landa – 3785

M45 – John Wirtz – 4286

M50 – Alan Cress – 3657

M55 – Robert Arello Jr. – 3771

M60 – Bob Cedrone – 3472

M65 – Bill Deeter – 3101

M70 – Jerry Huhn – 3830

M75 – Edward Burke – 4760

M80 – Phil Shipp – 4310

M85 – William Platts – 4357


W30 – None

W35 – Kimberly ONeill – 1972

W40 – None

W45 – None

W50 – Cindy Cook – 2340

W55 – Carol Finsrud – 3979

W60 – Joan Stratton – 3407

W65 – None

W70 – Roslyn Katz – 2516

W75 – Janice Bradley – 2861

Super Weight Championship

M40 Hondo Salgado 9.31

M45 Eric G Cole 10.19

M50 Greg D Retzer 9.10

M55 Robert Arello Jr 8.28

M60 Bob Cedrone 9.32

M65 Bill P Deeter 6.89

M70 George R Mathews 9.19

M75 Edward A Burke 10.42

M80 Udo Grady* 6.33 (Canadian), Wayne Sabin 6.27

M85 Harvey E Lewellen 6.57


W35 Kimberly A ONeill 5.25

W50 Katherine A Clausen de Contreras 6.19

W55 Carol E Finsrud 8.81

W60 Joan V Stratton 7.45

W70 Suzy H Wojcik 5.69

W75 Janice J Bradley 5.90

Ultra Weight Championship

M40 – Hondo Salgado – 3538

M45 – Eric Cole

M50 – Tim Shannon – 3875

M55 – Lance Neubauer – 3778

M60 – Bob Cedrone – 4082

M65 – Roger Conboy – 3542

M70 – George Mathews – 4190

M75 – Edward Burke – 5020

M80 – Udo Grady* – 2500 (Canadian), Wayne Sabin – 2498

M85 – Gerald Wojcik – 2809


W35 – Kimberly ONeill – 2209

W50 – Katharine A Clausen de Contre – 2700

W55 – Carol Finsrud – 3788

W60 – Joan Stratton – 3395

W70 – Suzy Wojcik – 3205

M75 Janace Bradley – 2921


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September 1, 2015

5 Responses

  1. Hartley Palleschi - September 1, 2015

    Thanks for posting this Ken.
    I note that the 3rd place Male Ultra Wt score is actually the Throws Pent score for John Wirtz. John’s name doesn’t appear in the Ultra list posted, so not sure if he competed second day.
    From the above results, 3rd place Male Ultra looks to be George Mathews with Bob Cedrone close behind, but there could be an age group 2nd placer who beat them.

  2. Hartley Palleschi - September 1, 2015

    After checking the full results, forget my previous post. Curiously enough, John Wirtz had exactly the same score both days! What are the chances? Congrats to John and all of the other competitors.

  3. George Mathews - September 1, 2015

    Actually John Wirtz does appear in the ultraweight pentathlon results link above. He did score 4286 for 1nd place in the men’s throws pentathlon and 4286 for 2nd place in the ultraweight pentathlon. We have double checked the field sheets and the results are certified by the firm of Mathews, Mathews, Seto and Ikstrums. Seems like an impossible happening. Could have used an extra 100 bucks. George

  4. Jason Purcell - September 2, 2015

    That’s a tough looking bunch! Those guys are the reason I learned to run fast when I was younger!

  5. wayne bennett - September 2, 2015

    Congratulations to Carol Finsrud for a great performance. She is a great athlete and a super person. A lovely person to be around.

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