Rita Hanscom, Christel Donley set heptathlon WRs at nationals

Christel and Rita share WR joy in Texas.

Christel and Rita share WR joy.

Rita Hanscom knew about the new W60 heptathlon record going into the USATF National Masters Combined Event Championships ending Sunday at the University of Texas San Antonio. And knowledge is power. She proceeded to blast a world record in the event, scoring 6043 points. (See results here.) The listed WR (with the 500g javelin) is 5458 by Germany’s Ulike Hiltscher. Rita set the W55 WR of 6057 at 2009 Lahti worlds (and derived IAAF Best Female Masters Athlete as a result). But wait! There’s more from Texas! At 80, Christel Donley of Colorado took down Johnnye Valien’s hep WR of 4623 at 2005 San Sebastian worlds. Christel scored 5375 by hurdling 25.52, high jumping 1.02/3-4 (which also ties the listed American record by Flo Meiler at 2014 Winston-Salem nationals), putting 7.09 (23-3 1/4), running 200 in 43.93 on Day 1 and long-jumping 2.22 (7-3 1/4), javelining 14.46 (47-5 1/4) and running 800 in 4:56.98 on Day 2. Rita’s marks were 14.18, 1.35 (4-5), 8.61 (28-3), 31.78, 4.24 (13-11), 27.48 (90-2) and 3:01.17.

As good fortune would have it, Rita will meet fellow record-setter Ulike at Lyon worlds in August. Look for even better marks.

Lyon entrants in the W60 hep:

Anja Akkerman-Smits Netherlands
Loretta Amerongen Canada
Tui Ashe New Zealand
Rita Hanscom United States of America
Ulrike Hiltscher Germany
Anna Matusova Slovak Republic
Ruth Pach Germany
Jocelyne Pater Belgium
Colette Ruineau France
Marianne Schumacher Germany
Yumiko Tamada Japan

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June 28, 2015

7 Responses

  1. Weia Reinboud - June 29, 2015

    In Lyon also Anja Akkerman will be present, who already scored 5700+ four weeks ago for W60: http://www.mastersrankings.com/rankings.php?gender=Women&season=Outdoor&year=2015

  2. pat kelly - June 29, 2015

    Congrats, Rita and Christel! Pretty awesome!

  3. Liz Palmer - June 29, 2015

    I like to hang with these two ladies in the hope that some of their athletic awesomeness will rub off on me. Congratulations!

  4. Ken Stone - June 29, 2015

    Complete results are now online here:
    http://masterstrack.com/wp-content/uploads/2015usatfnmcecresults.pdf

  5. Mary Harada - June 29, 2015

    sounds like they are rounding into great shape for Lyon!
    well done indeed.

  6. Rob Jerome - July 2, 2015

    Congratulations to Rita and Christel. With Christel, Flo Meiler and Irene Obera all going to Lyon, USA W80 is going be well-represented.

  7. Sonja Meyrer - July 20, 2015

    Gosh, I have known Christel 49 years and alas, her talent has not rubbed off on me yet! Way to go mom (and Rita!)

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