The shuttle hurdle relay came of age Saturday. Three age-group records were set at North Carolina nationals on a day when the weather was near perfect for all events. Rain early in the day and later in the afternoon kept things cool mostly. World records were set in several events, aptly detailed by USATF intern Tyler Stevenson (giving me a chance to focus on my 200. I broke 30 at 60, so I’m delighted.) I also had the privilege of meeting the next generation of masters star, including the M35 Ricketts twins, Brian and Chris, who ran the shuttle hurdle relay. I attended the Athletes Banquet at the site of the 2015 indoor nationals in Winston-Salem. About 300 had a great time, entertained at one point by meet director Noel Ruebel, who did a karaoke version of “Chantilly Lace.” I have video. Stay tuned. And David Pain Distinguished Service Award winner Carroll DeWeese made gave a wonderful acceptance speech noting how masters track is a social movement as well as a sport. I will post that video soon as well.

Here’s the USATF writeup:

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina — Even some early-morning rain showers couldn’t stop the record breaking performances along with the intense and spirited competition at Kentner Stadium on the campus of Wake Forest University on Day Three of USATF Masters Outdoor Championships.
 
With an early 6:30 a.m. start for the 10,000-meter race walk, John Starr, 85, (Wallingford, Pennsylvania) of Philadelphia Track Club, broke the listed World record of 1:16:12 by over two minutes with a time of 1:14:05.10. 
 
Sabra Harvey (Houston Texas) broke her third record in as many days, beating the listed world W65 1500m record by almost a second, and destroyed the listed American record by nearly 16 seconds as she crossed the finish in 5:29.85.
 
Former Princeton star Bruce McBarnette, 56, (Sterling, Virginia) of Potomac Valley Track Club, jumped 1.84m/6-0.5 on his last attempt to break the listed American record set by Willie Banks (1.83m/6-0) in 2012 in the high jump. He jumped 1.65, 1.70, 1.75 and 1.80m before failing to clear 1.84m on his first two attempts.
 
Irene Obera (Fremont, California) of West Valley Track Club continued her impressive championship weekend as she set the World record in the W80 100m, blazing a 16.81, almost two seconds ahead of the previous listed World record set by Germany’s Hanna Gelbrich (18.42) in 1993.
 
The women’s discus saw two records American records fall today. In the W80 division, Florence Meiler(Shelburne, Vermont) of Mass Velocity Track Club launched a 18.36m/60-3 moonshot to beat the listed American record of 18.16m/59-7 set by fellow competitor Gloria Krug (New Oxford, Pennsylvania) of Philadelphia Track Club in 2013. Krug finished third with a 15.69m/51-5 toss. Cindy Wyatt (Lewis Center, Ohio), 70, broke the listed American record in the W70 group, throwing 25.25m/82-10, almost 3.0m/9-10 more than the previous mark.
 
In the M50 triple jump, former NFL wide receiver Henry Ellard, 52, (Metairie, Louisiana) won the title in dominating fashion. He jumped 13.01m/42-8.25 on his second jump to clinch the victory, as he outjumped his nearest competitor by .20m/0-8
 
The first relay events took place today with the shuttle hurdles. In the W40-49 division, the team ofAnne Sluder, 41, (Pineville, North Carolina), Menka Scott, 47, (Lees Summit, Missouri), Regina Richardson, 49, (Clayton, North Carolina), and Susan Wiemer, 48, (Freeport, Maine) ran a 55.65 to break the listed American record of 56.21.
 
The men’s shuttle hurdles saw three American records broken as well. The M50-59 team of Darnell Gatling Sr., 54, (Bronx, New York), Michael Jones Sr., 54, (Durham, North Carolina), Kerry Sloan, 51, (Harker Heights, Texas), and Mark Williamson (Durham, North Carolina) ran a 1:01.81 to break the 2011 record by more than two minutes. In the M60-69 division, Thaddeus Wilson Sr., 63, (Oxnard California), Ernie Snodgrass, 61, (Creve Coeur, Missouri), Rick Lapp, 64, (Coram, New York), and Russell Jacquet-Acea, 61, (Seattle, Washington) broke the listed American record of 1:11.48 with their time of 1:08.07. Not be be outdone, the M70-79 team of Brian Ricketts (San Antonio, Texas), Christopher Ricketts, (Kingsport, Tennessee), Jefferson Souza (Miami, Florida), Jayson Vazquez, (Mesa, Arizona) ran a 1:04.49, breaking the record by nearly three seconds. 
 
The team competition continues to be a tight battle between So Cal Track Club and Atlanta Track Club, with So Cal leading 569 points to 489.