Masters keeping up with the munchkins at USATF nationals
Jeff Laynes, 35, made it to the semifinals of the men’s 100 at the USATF Open nationals today in Indianapolis, running 10.29 in a heat that saw Justin Gatlin go 10.02 with a 0.4 mps aiding wind. Jeff ran 10.17 at Modesto, but his 10.29 at Indy should easily qualify as the M35 American record, bettering the listed 10.3 (hand-timed) mark of Ruben Whitney in 1980. In the semis, Jeff ran 10.44 into a 1.2 mps wind. In the 400-meter hurdles prelims, Sandra Glover, 37, was the fourth-fastest qualifier, at 55.62.
Even though Sandra ran 53.40 in 2004, the listed American W35 record for 400 meter hurdles is 63.13 by Alethea Morris in 2004. Go figure. (Or don’t even bother to to try.)
In the 5,000 final, Marla Runyan, 37, was sixth in 15:31.78.
Saturday afternoon, the masters men’s 100 and women’s 400 exhibitions go off.
