Jax nationals under way: Worst weather in masters history?

Sue McCarthy's shot of the fence logos.

Sue McCarthy’s shot of the fence logos.

For all the great performances at Jacksonville nationals, this meet may go down as the most uncomfortable in history, rivaling Charlotte 2006. The temp is “absolutely brutal,” “ghastly,” say commenters, with a heat index of 107 Thursday. Then the thunderstorms came in the afternoon, and a transformer blew at a hotel where one entrant was staying. Backup power came on. Throwers are still being inconvenienced. Says one: “Tried to get my shot weighed for tomorrow and they said I had to bring it back after 2:30 or tomorrow morning. Not sure I’m going back today. It’s hot!!!! They only had 1 hammer cage. They promised 2, so the hammer was running about 2-3 hours behind.” At least efforts are being immortalized on USATF.TV, with 34 videos posted so far. As they say incessantly: Stay hydrated.

Here’s the USATF summary of Thursday, Day 1:

JACKSONVILLE — After a long awaited start, the first day of the 2015 USATF Masters Championships got underway amidst grueling heat surrounding Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida.

The USATF Masters Outdoor Championships can be seen on demand on USATF.TV. Action continues Friday, July 24 and concludes Sunday, July 26.

Myrle Mensey (St. Louis, Missouri) started the day by nearly surpassing her own record in the W65-69 hammer throw with a mark of 38.46m/126-2.50. Despite winning Thursday by just over three meters, Mensey’s 39.61m/129-11 is still the American W65-69 record set last September.

Bill Jankovich (Racine, Wisconsin) began his pentathlon events with one of the more impressive performances of the day, finishing the M70-89 1500m in 11:03. In the discus throw, Jankovich scored 520 points with his toss of 19.97m/65-6, and crossed in 45.91 in the men’s 200 meters. In the final two events of the day, Jankovich threw 26.63m/87-4 in the javelin and cleared 2.66m/8-8.75 in the men’s long jump.

The 800 meters saw champions crowned during the morning session with a lot of tight races down the homestretch.

The M40-44 division surpassed expectations with the two fastest times of the day coming from this age group. Peter Brady (Jersey City, New Jersey) and Mark Williams (Columbia, New Jersey) battled the entire duration of the race with Brady eventually coming out on top at 1:59.15. Williams was the second runner under two minutes for the day coming in at 1:59.63.

Michael Brown went on to capture the M30-34 800m in 2:01.24, while William Mason (Beloit, Kansas) posted a victory in the M50-54 800m in 2:06.80.

Betty Schaefer (Buckeye, Arizona) won close in the W65-84 800m field to win in 3:10.70. Nonie Hudnall (Atlanta, Goergia) finished as the runner-up in 3:12.60.

The W30-84 division pentathlon ran the 80-meter short hurdles heats in the morning with the third heat boasting the top times. Anne Sluder (Pineville, North Carolina) ran the top overall time in 13.20 and Carmellia Shivers-Cole (Dallas, Georgia) came in just behind Sluder in 13.47.

The M70-99 hammer throw saw tremendous distances from the top two toward the end of the first session Thursday. Peter La Barge (Runaway Bay, Texas) came out on top at 37.05m/121-6.50 and Robert Cahners (Naples, Florida) was the runner-up with his mark of 36.45m/119-6.75.

Results from the entire first day of competition can be viewed here.

Entry is free to the public for the entire weekend and the rest of the 2015 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships. Click here for more information regarding the rest of the weekend.

Fans are invited to join the conversation by following USATF on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Ryan Stevens
Communications Intern
Ryan.Stevens@usatf.org

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July 23, 2015

3 Responses

  1. chuckxc - July 24, 2015

    1500s under rain delay…… fingers crossed they can get them in tonight.

  2. Joe Ruggless - July 24, 2015

    OMG, I don’t usually sweat much but today waiting for the 400 finals, I was sitting under the check in tent and watching the sweat roll off my arms and legs like I was in a shower. Haven’t jumped on a scale yet, but I’ll bet I lost at least 5 lbs today.

  3. Ken Stone - July 25, 2015

    On the bright side, that’s 5 pounds less you have to carry, Joe. Just drink, drink, drink to keep organs and other systems working.

    And CONGRATS on your M60 national title in the 4 — going 58.44! http://finishtiming.trackscoreboard.com/#/results/meet/2015901/event/152/Final

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