Kirsten Leetch sets W50 10K record at Mt. SAC amid thin fields
The next day, Friday, masters sprint god Willie Gault ran a 100 against the kiddies in a legal 11.62, just off his M55 WR of 11.30.
But back in the day, when recruiter/coordinators ran things, the Mt. SAC Relays filled the lanes with masters standouts in the 100, 200 and 800. Age-graded sprints and 800s (organized by Al Sheahen of National Masters News) saw different starting lines for different races.
In recent years, though, the 200 was dropped and the 100 and 800 reverted to scratch races. In Saturday’s 60th edition (see results), some great marks were turned in. But with only two women in the 800 and two women in the 100 — and three men in the 800, we could see exhibitions evaporate at this great meet if things don’t change fast. I’m awaiting replies from Mt. SAC and others.
The saving grace Saturday was the men’s 100, won by M50 world champion Derek Pye. He edged last year’s winner, M45 Reggie Pendland, 11.30 to 11.34. Derek will run at Penn this weekend.
Middle-school teacher Bob Elsinger, 43, fought off a bad hammie and 58-year-year-old Ray Knerr in the 800, 2:10.35 to 2:11.84, with Santa Monica City College media professor Monte Gast, a 70-year-old Canadian multi-eventer, clocking 3:35.00 in a rare 800 for him. (He says he’s shooting for a Canadian decathlon record this year.) Bob says he has all-time PRs of 1:55 in the 800 and 48 in the 400. He ran for Macalester College in Minnesota.
W50 Judith Stobbe, who moved to SoCal from New York a year ago, beat Janes Elite teammate Tania Fischer, 2:32.04 to 2:34.43, with W50 star Aeron Arlin Genet a disappointing no-show.
W40 Elly Mann of Trojan Masters TC clocked a legal 13.88 against her only competition, W65 Freddie Braxton, running 21.03 in flats.
Chris Stone took these shots. For high-resolution images, go to my Google Drive. But please credit Chris Stone / masterstrack.com if you use these on social media.
5 Responses
Nice pics Stone family.
Congrads to all the competitors.
More photos of the kiddies here:
https://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2018/04/23/olympic-champ-allyson-felix-at-32-takes-relay-but-not-star-turn-at-mt-sac/
Great coverage of great performances. Thanks!
Eugene Driver really uses a “drag chute”?? Interesting concept. Wonder if it easier on his legs to slow down?
Eugene Driver “The Track Junkie” brings a much needed breath of fresh air to the sport of Track and Field. I was his “Diablo” teammate at Cal-State L.A in the ’70’s. His sense of humor always reminded his fellow tracksters that whether win or lose they should have FUN along the way!
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