M75 Olympian Ed Burke set a world record on his 76th birthday and three others claimed American records on Day 1 (Friday) at Albuquerque (henceforth ABQ) indoor nationals. (Results are here.) My sources also share sad news: Christel Donley scratched before the competition with a leg injury, and Marie Kay, who had come all the way from Australia to try to set a WR in the pentathlon, pulled her hamstring on the HJ and is out. “Meet seems well-run,” a source says. “Events in the afternoon a little delayed.” W30 Chaunte Lowe used this meet to help her get an Olympic qualifying mark for her fourth Games. “All the HJers I know said she did herself proud.” (Chaunte is 32, but the best 32-year-old jumper, according to Weia Reinboud’s absolute records, is Bulgaria’s Venelina Veneva, who cleared 2.04 (6-8 1/4) in 2006. Christa Mann did Indy proud with her report from New Mexico.

Christa’s report includes quotes from stars.

Three-time Olympian Ed Burke opened USATF Masters Indoor Championships in record-breaking fashion at the Albuquerque Convention Center, Friday, when he tossed 19.38m/63-7 in the M75 weight throw for age-group World and American records on his 76th birthday. The listed record of 16.86/55-3 was set by Bob Ward in 2009.

In all, five records were broken on the first day, as Burke, who owns M70 World and American marks, also broke the American super weight throw record, throwing 10.67m/34-9.

The records continued to fall when W40 multi-eventer Rachel Guest broke the existing pentathlon AR by more than 200 points, scoring 3,737 after five events. She was the day’s top competitor at every discipline, running 9.28 in the 60mH, jumping 1.47m/4-9.75, throwing the shot put 9.34m/30-07.75, leaping 5.17m/16-11.5 in long jump and finishing the 800m in 2:43:49. Outdoors, she also holds the W35 heptathlon record.

M40 sprinter Antwon Dussett broke the 400m AR after splitting 22.96 at the 200m to finish in 49.32.

Emma Mcgowan was the fastest W45 in the 400m, as she ran 1.00.01, just off the 59.30 she ran earlier this year to break the standing 59.37 AR.

M90 competitors Dixon Hemphill and Orville Rogers kicked off the men’s 400m races as the 91-year-old Hemphill took the lead heading into the second and final lap. Hemphill finished first in 3:26.05 with 98-year-old Rogers in second at 3:51.91.

Three time Olympian and current elite Chaunte Lowe cleared 1.94m/6-4.25 in W30 high jump.

After the first day of competition, SoCal Track Club leads team scoring with 131 points.

Watch highlights from USATF Masters Indoor Championships on-demand on USATF.TV.

The meet continues Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 8 a.m. each day.

Quotes

Ed Burke, M75 Weight Throw and Super Weight Throw Champion

On breaking the World and American records

“I made the world record on my first throw. When you do that, it feels good and you can take a deep breath.”

On what keeps him going

“Putting demands on yourself and achieving them.”

On how long he will continue

“Why quit – there is no reason to quit.”

Rachel Guest jumps during her latest AR in pentathlon. Rob Jerome photo

Rachel Guest, W40 Pentathlon Champion

On breaking the record

“I have the W35 American record in pentathlon. I broke it twice while I was in that age division. This past summer in Lyon, France, I ended up breaking the W40 heptathlon record by over 1,000 points at the World Masters Athletics Championships, so coming into any championships, I am always looking at where I am and what my possibilities are. I knew that as long as I hit good averages today, I could get it.”

Antwon Dussett, M40 400m Champion

On competing in Albuquerque and managing the altitude

“Over the past few months, I’ve been training with an altitude mask to kind of help get myself get acclimated for here. It felt good running. I knew if I came around the 200-meter mark around 22.5, I would set myself up good for where I wanted to be.”

On what it feels like to break the record

Antwon Dussett set 400 AR. Rob Jerome photo

“It feels great! It’s something I’ve been aspiring for the last couple of years that I have been getting closer to the 40-year-olds age group. It’s something that I wanted to do, and we’ll see what happens in the 200 meters next.”

Chaunte Lowe

On competing at USATF Masters Indoor Championships

“It’s fun because they’re doing it for the love of sport, and a lot of times it’s always so intense at the U.S. nationals and international competitions. I like the feel of enjoying the sport.”

On her goal coming into the day

“My goal was to jump 1.97m/6-5.5, and I felt like I had it in my legs. It’s a little frustrating to be so close at not make it at those heights. But at the same time, it is what it is.”