Karla’s 300 at Toronto.
Our Ontario friend
Karla Del Grande turned 60 last March, and from the looks of recent results, she’s ready to demolish indoor sprint records from 60 meters to 400 meters. At a Toronto
all-comers meet Sunday, world-champ Karla ran the 50 twice (in 7.51 and 7.53) and the 300 in 48.31. The listed indoor WRs for 60 and 400 are 8.68 (by
Valerie Parsons) and 68.34 (by
Phil Raschker). Both seem easily in reach. Phil’s 200 WR of 28.94 could fall as well. Other great marks Sunday included marathoner
Ed Whitlock’s 6:14.95 for the 1500. He already holds the M80 WR of 5:48.47. Exceptional 50s were clocked by M70
Tony Powell (7.53) and M50
Michael Lee Foon (6.68). And my photographer friend
Doug “Shaggy” Smith noted being part of a 4×2 Ontario record M60 team. They ran 2:17.19, averaging 34.3. Not bad for a bunch of distance runners and a high jumper/shot putter. Congrats to all, especially Karla. Budapest rivals should be afraid. Very afraid. For more shots of the Toronto mini-meet, which included cute grade-schoolers,
see this gallery.
University of Toronto TC relayists from left are Peter Zowkewich, Duncan Greenshields, Doug Smith and John “Run Like” Helliker.
3 Responses
Way to go Karla…you are amazing!!!
Doug…you and your friends did ok…Stay well guys.
Congratulations to all, and particularly to Karla. I note with delight that the W60 world marks in the 200 (28.11) and 400 (1:06.24) that she established in Porto Alegre last year have both been accepted by WMA. I believe there was some initial doubt about the prospects for ratification.
OK, I will also recognize Ed Whitlock for running 6:14.95 in the 1500. The man can still gallop, octogenarian or not.
I was ahead of Ed in the 1500m for the first time in 30 years of racing him. I was so freaked that I was relieved when he went by at the half.
Leave a Reply