Eurovets set 20 world records at Lahti WMA championships
In 2007, Europeans set 17 world age-group records at Riccione worlds — with an attendance of about 9,000 athletes. At the 2009 Lahti world masters meet, with about 5,000 entrants, Europeans set 20 world records, according to a report from Eurovets statmeister Ivar Söderlind of Sweden. Quality AND quantity. Ivar writes: “It is remarkable that 32 of the 40 (European) records broken (were) in the age classes M/W60 and older. . . . Three athletes set up two world records in Lahti: Rolf Geese of Germany in M65 decathlon (8264 points) and 100-meter hurdles (15.47/+0.3), Holger Josefsson of Sweden in M90 800 (4.04.85) and 1500 (8.07.17) and finally Guido Müller of Germany in M70 400 (59.34) and as participant in the winning relay team 4×400 (4.17.47).”
Ivar continued: “In Lahti, Guido also was world champion in 100, 200 and 4×100 in
Germany’s team. In 2009, Guido has (set) world records in five
individual events: indoors 200 (26.92), indoors 400 (59.92), outdoors
200 (26.55), outdoors 400 (59.34) and outdoors 300 hurdles (45.24)!”
See Ivar’s list of Lahti records.
According to the WMA records page, 11 world records were set by North Americans (including eight by Canada’s incomparable Olga Kotelko):
W40 steeplechase: Lisa Valle USA 7:01.91
W90 long jump: Olga Kotelko CAN 1.77m
W90 throws pentathlon: Olga Kotelko CAN 5905 points
W90 discus: Olga Kotelko CAN 13.92m
W90 javelin: Olga Kotelko CAN 13.54m
W90 200: Olga Kotelko CAN 56.46
W90 triple jump: Olga Kotelko CAN 4.02m
W90 weight throw: Olga Kotelko CAN 6.49m
M80 800: Earl Fee CAN 2:49.92
W90 high jump: Olga Kotelko CAN 0.82
W55 heptathlon: Rita Hanscom USA 6382 points
One Response
Those high age groups: I expect much improvements to come. The number of athletes is lower, for example. But also: at a certain age decline goes much faster and everybody will reach that point sooner or later. It’s maybe in your genes. Inevitably there will be gifted athletes that also have the gift of a late extra decline. And than records go up considerably. They are rare, but they exist. See Don Pellmann in the high jump, nearly 94 and no accelerated decline…
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