Chris Bates opens masters nationals with M45 pentathlon WR
More than a dozen records were set on Day 1 of Albuquerque masters nationals. Haven’t had a chance to scrutinize these marks (which sometimes are surpassed by unreported earlier bests). But no doubt Chris Bates is the Man of the Meet so far by raising his own M45 pentathlon world record from Kamloops — or until Bill Collins runs the 60 and 200. Bill crushed the M60 American record for 400 with his 55.68 (beating the listed AR of 55.91 by New Mexico’s Don Neidig in 2005.) See results here. The only quarter-miler faster over 60 is Canadian legend Harold Morioka, who clings to the WR with his 55.62 from 2003.
Here’s how USATF summarized the first day:
14 American Records, 1 World Record Broken, 1 Tied in first day of USA Masters Champs
3/4/2011ALBUQUERQUE – The spotlight shone brightly on Christopher Bates in the USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships as he set an American and World Record in the M45 pentathlon in Albuquerque, N.M.
The three-day meet features athletes ranging in age from 30-96 in a display of speed, strength, and endurance for all ages. Track events range from 60m to 3,000m, while field events will include the full range of indoor jumps and throws. Competition resumes tomorrow at the Albuquerque Convention Center with the first finals in the blocks at 10:00 a.m. Spectators are welcome, and entry is free of charge.
Christopher Bates of Portland, Ore. broke his own World and American Records in the M45 pentathlon where he lead the point tallies from the first event of the 60m Hurdles and built a sizable led on his way to victory with 4036 points total. On his way to his record breaking victory, he set the following marks: 60m Hurdles – 8.94; Long Jump – 5.97m/19-07.00; Shot Put – 12.09m/39-08.00; High Jump 1.81m/5.11.25.
Kay Glynn tied her own pending World and American Record in the W55 pole vault with a leap of 2.95m/9-08.00 to claim the National Championship Title.
Albuquerque local and decorated middle distance runner, Lisa Valle ran away from the field in the W45 3,000m to record a win in 10:53.76. Other titlists in the 3,000m included Latashia Key of Indianapolis, Ind. Winning the W35 race in 12:15.64 and Sheryl Miller of Houston, Texas winning the W45 competition in 10:53.76.
Todd Taylor of Molalla, Ore. had a record-breaking series of throws in the M60 Weight Throw. He had four throws better than the previous American Record, with a winning mark of 20.02/65-08.00.
The women’s pentathlon was one for the record books. For the W35 division, all three competitors broke the previous American Record established by Teri Lowe in 2006. Dawn Kent of Wilmington, Del. racked up 2,242 points to claim the national title and American Record. Runner-up Danelle Readinger of Terre Haute, Ind. also bettered the previous record with 2,212 points, and Melissa Anderson took the bronze with her record-breaking performance of 1,145 points. In the W75 competition, two women broke the current national record in the shot put. Florence Meiler of Shelburne, Vt. threw 7.18m/23-06.75 and Christel Donley of Colorado Springs, Colo. recorded an even further mark of 7.84m/25-08.75. Meiler went on to amass 3,939 points to win the national championship. Nadine O’Connor of San Diego, Calif. started her busy weekend of seven events off on a good note, by breaking the W65 American Record with 4,139 points.
The 400m competition saw four records fall, where Jeanne Daprano of the Atlanta Track Club, a 2010 World Masters Indoor Champion, broke her own record in the W70 age group with a time of 1:20.57. Latricia Dendy of New York, a multi-time world champion, set her first indoor American Record in 56.46. John Means of Richmond Heights, Ohio shattered a four-year-old record in the Men’s 90+ age group in 1:46.94, besting the previous record by almost three seconds. In the M60 division, Bill Collins of the Houston Elite Track and Field Club led the field, with his teammate Charles Allie running just off his shoulder until the final meters of the straightaway. Collins bested the previous record in a time of 55.68, with Allie finishing second in 56.58.
In other field event action, Florence Meiler recorded her second American Record of the meet with her winning leap of 1.90m/6-02.75 in the W75 pole vault. Don Issett of Dallas and Steven Warr of Hockley tied for the M70 national title with heights of 3.0m/9-10.00. The oldest competitor in the championships, 96-year-old Leland McPhie of San Diego recorded a toss of 4.26m/13-11.00 in the weight throw to win his first of seven events he is entered in this weekend.
The night’s competition wrapped up with the men’s 3,000m where Blake Wood of Los Alamos, N.M. ran a blazing 9:46.50 to win the M50 championship. The fastest time of all age-groups was turned in by Andrew Duncan of Las Vegas, Nev. for the M40 title in 9:29.71.
Live results of the competition can be found at: http://rtspt.com/events/usatf/masters-indoor11/
For media trackside athlete interviews and more information, contact Bob Weiner, USATF National Masters Media Chair, at weinerpublic@comcast.net or cells 202-306-1200 or 202-329-1700. Media may arrange advance credentialing or see Bob trackside and show media organization credentials
For more information on the 2011 USA Masters Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, including the complete results, visit www.usatf.org
12 Responses
In the mens 400M, noticed the return of Ray Blackwell (M50) but the absence of Donald Neidig (M65) even though he is local. Hopefully both these superb competitors will be healthy for Sacramento to participate in these events plus the relays for USA.
To me the most exciting result in the 400 is Jeanne Daprano’s. Only 6 months from leaving her age group she took nearly 2 seconds off her own American Record and came tantalizingly close to Lydia’s World Record. I haven’t checked it out but my guess it is quite a bit better than that World Record age-graded. Congratulations Jeanne!!!
I looked up the age grading. Jeanne Daprano’s 400m run of 80.57 gives an age-graded percentage at the age of 74 of 98.07%, while Lydia Ritter’s WR of 79.18 gives an age-graded percentage of 90.93%. But get this: Jeanne’s run gives an age-graded time of 48.54. The open American Record is 50.54 and the open World Record is 49.59. Way to go Jeanne!! I can’t wait to see what you do next year.
[60 is Canadian legend Harold Morioka, who clings to the WR with his 55.62 ]
Thought it was 54.56
http://www.mastersathletics.net/fileadmin/html/Rankings/All_Time/400metresmen.htm
The outdoor WR by a 63 year old Ralph Romain is incredible. 53.88 Age graded: 99.98% !!!
I met Ralph at 1999 Gateshead worlds. Tall skinny guy — and I was in awe even then.
Did Ralph Maxwell break the M90 Indoor Hurdle record in New Mexico? (at the USATF Indoor Championships this week during the Pent)
Congrats to the 400 meter National record breakers, Jeanne Daprano (70-74 from Atlanta), Latricia Dendy (35-39 from New York), John Means (90-94. Cleveland area) and Bill Collins (60-64 from the Houston area)! …So much for the percieved altitude problems recently posted on Masterstrack.com that some runners where complaining about. After seeing athletes as old as 90 and as young as 38 that live and train at close to sea-level, or sea-level cities break National records at altitude. I’d say those excuses are just that…I’d also like to hear more about Florence Meiler. This gal blew away Christel Donley this year in the Pentathlon and has beaten Christel the last two years indoors in the Pentathlon. Mrs. Meiler must be one heck of an athlete to have beaten Christel so handley after all the write-ups and press I read about on how great Christel is. Keep up the great performances folks and Sunday should prove to be an interesting day in the Men’s shot put events of the 35-39, 40-44, 45-49 and especially the 50-54 age groups, with Dennis Diaz, Paul Ossmann and Bob Arello!!
Yes, Jeff. I broke the M90 World Record in the 60-meter hurdles. I set also set a new age-group World Record in the Pentathlon with a point total of 4899 points, which incidentally is the highest point total ever posted by any Master’s athlete in any age group since records have been kept. Somehow that got overlooked in the press release.
Don Neidig is a college teammate of mine at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania and it certainly is a huge disappointment not to see him running here in Albuquerque this weekend. In late January he wrote to me that he has a severe and potentially career ending injury problem in the joint between his fibula and ankle. It is a problem that has been building and worsening over time and he has not been able to do any training for months. Very sad indeed.
Just read the release after posting the last comment. There is at least one HUGE error. Todd Taylor did indeed have a series that included four throws that topped the existing AR in the M60-64 superweight, but he and the rest of the throwing world would be very surprised to see anyone in that age group throw the 44# implement 20.02m. In fact that was Hank Konen’s winning throw in the 20# weight throw in that age group. Todd’s best throw, and the new AR in the M60-64 superweight, was “only” 10.79m.
Ralph, Congrads on your great accomplishments.
signed, Jeff
(the California hurdler that has almost 40 years
to wait to be 90).
Congratulations Chris! Very impressive!
Leave a Reply