Ed Burke named USATF Athlete of the Week, lifting obscure meet
Ed Burke gets Indy love after cracking 5K barrier.
Here’s the USATF release for posterity:
INDIANAPOLIS — Olympian and Masters Track athlete Ed Burke has been named USATF’s Athlete of the Week after his record-setting performance at the 2014 USA Masters Throws Championships on August 2-3 at the College of Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Burke (Los Gatos, California) won the M70-74 Ultraweight Throws Pentathlon with a record-setting 5,051 points, breaking his own American record by 371 points. He also broke his record in the Superweight with a toss of 11.67m/38-3 on his last attempt, just beating the former mark of 11.66m/38-3. He made it a clean sweep by winning the M70-74 Throws Pentathlon, scoring 4,606 points, winning the hammer (49.28m/168-8), discus (39.54m/129-9) and weight throw (18.51m/60-8.75).
“I’ve been trying to get 5,000 for a while,” Burke said. “I figured if I could throw a reasonable hammer that I’ve been improving in the other throws that I could get it. You just never know too, sometimes you just catch one in the wind. I just go out there and try to have fun and beat myself. I can’t believe it (on being named USATF’s Athlete of the Week). It’s an amazing feeling, I’m honored and thrilled.”
Burke was a three-time Olympian in the hammer throw, competing in the 1964, ‘68, and ‘84 Games. He was named Team USA’s flag bearer at Los Angeles in 1984. Burke won the M70 hammer throw (52.35m/171/9) and weight throw (19.85m/65-1) at the 2014 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships in Winston-Salem.
11 Responses
Ken,
There were many great results but the most? It was Cindy Wyatt, W-70, who had 5 American Records to her credit….
– SP: 9.03m
– DT: 24.71m
– Jav: 14.70m (New 500g Implement)
– Throws Pent. Pts = 4028
– Ultra Pent. Pts = 3657
And congratulations to Ed…..Always ask for the Steel Tape if you think it could be close!!! 🙂
“Obscure throws meet”…..that’s funny…..I thought the long throws at Winston-Salem were a bit of a mystery.
Hear, hear, Gary D. If a discus falls in the woods, does it make a sound?
Of all the record-breakers, Cindy Wyatt stood out for quantity and John Goldhammer had the most appropriate name.
– Calling the USA Masters Throws Championship meet, which awards 3 National Championship titles (Throws Pentathlon, Superweight Throw, and Ultraweight Pentathlon) an “obscure throws meet” is an unnecessary and derogatory dig and is beneath you. Frankly, I thought you capable of better than this, Ken.
Yeah Bob…kind of wondered that myself…was trying not to take the comment to seriously though…the thrower community knows who we are and what we do and is probably outside of our own personal family the closest..tightest and most honorable family to be a member of…that’s pretty much ALL that matter’s!! 🙂
“Obscure throws meet” is accurate as far as Indy is concerned. Are you satisfied with USATF promotion and coverage of the meet, Bob?
Ken, if Masters T&F athletes relied solely on the USATF National office in Indy for promotion and coverage of our meets, we would be in worse shape than we already are. My comments were directed to your classification (in bold letters and underlined, no less) of the USA Masters Throws Championship Meet. Ask any of the attendees and officials that were there if they felt they were at an “obscure throws meet”, and see what their answer is.
I don’t think that Ken Stone was trying to denigrate the Throws Championships, but was pointing out in the minds of many, that it is a pretty esoteric event. While Ed Burke’s performances were incredible, so were a few others. Given Ed’s pedigree in throwing, I think it’s fantastic that he is competing again, but did Indy mainly notice because he is a 3 time Olympian? Scoring over 5,000 points in the ultra pentathlon is mind blowing, but I’d think that John Goildhammer’s AR in the throws pentathlon was equally impressive. If Ed hadn’t competed would John had been named “athlete of the week”, even though he was probably worthy of it? I somehow doubt it would have happened.
The Throws Championship in Worcester was one of the best, if not the best, masters national championship event that I’ve competed in. Hats off to Bob Cedrone, Jim Burgoyne, Jim Chamberas, and to all of the volunteers and USATF officials for the first class jobs that they did.
Ed did good. He is the biggest reason Norcal throwing is thriving.
Would have, could have, should have, come on. A master’s thrower got some recognition. Enjoy it.
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