Southwest Sprinters, Athena TC take Millrose titles
A Southwest Sprinters foursome (not necessarily from the Southwest) tonight won the men’s 4×4 relay at the 101st Millrose Games in New York City. Southwest was runner-up a year ago. But they ran faster last year, when they lost to Nike Central Park TC. Athena TC, however, defended its title of 2007. But Athena ran 9 seconds faster last year. We’re all getting older, I guess. Unsure of the makeup of all these teams. Hope entrants report the sights, sounds and smells of the tuxedo meet. But the masters men, at least, were studly. Southwest’s winning time of 3:37.22 would have taken fourth in the Public Schools Athletic League boys 4×4, just ahead of Clara Barton High School. Next year, guys, beat ENY Transit Tech!
In other events, W35 Stacy Dragila no-heighted in the vault after three misses at the opening 4.23 (13-10 1/2). And W35 Gwen Wentland was third in the high jump at 1.89 (6-2 1/4). Gwen scaled the same height January 19 at a meet in Manhattan, Kansas, near her home.
Gwen’s jumps beat the listed W35 American indoor record of 1.84 (6-0 1/2) by Karol Ann Rovelto in 2006. But who knows if Karol’s mark was truly an American age-group best. Don’t get me started.
The listed W35 world record is 2.00 (6-6 3/3) by Ukraine’s Inga Babakova in 2001.
And, oh BTW: W45 racewalker Teresa Vaill easily won the national mile walk championship at Millrose, with a time many women her age would die for in the mile run: 7:01.17. Yes, you heard that right. Teresa was born in 1962.
And she would have beaten THREE guys in the men’s mile walk! What an animal.
6 Responses
Firstly I would like to thank all masters athletes competing at the Millrose games, both Women and Men competed with dignity and respect and I personally appreciate the camaraderie and support I feel from my fellow masters athletes!
Secondly I’m pissed off at Allen Johnson for not running with us in the masters mile relay. I think its because he is still running elite times and therefore thinks he an elite athlete…. his misfortune.
Lastly I would like to say thank you to the officials for treating us masters as a circus act and not allowing us to warm up in “elite athletes area”, some of you probably noticed that I did not budge when asked to leave the elite athlete warm up area.
Since no one else was using it I didn’t see what all the fuss was about. A little respect for Masters Athletes would be much appreciated when we are preparing to run or else I’m gonna have to hurt someone. Other than that the meet was ok, its not what it used to be but it is an Olympic year, athletes have to be smart or they won’t make it to the games or obtain their dreams.
Oh yeah Ken you are right, we runners form Southwest Sprinters are not all from the South west but believe or not No one from NYC would pick me up to run with their club when I first started competing.
I asked two teams from NYC if I could compete with them and was told no thank you. Can you believe that?! That same year I won the 400 and the 400H at the US Masters National Championships in Charlotte. Thank you Southwest Sprinters for letting me run with your club!
Mr. Echeandia
Tony, you are a class act my brother. And to all you guys from Southwest Sprinters, keep up the wonderful work you guys do on and off the track.
This was my first year participating in the Millrose games after years of watching on TV and in person. As a lifelong NYer it really meant a lot to me. I have to thank my teammates on the 2nd Wind TC, especially Jim Reilly, for giving me the chance. Great job and thanks to all the Masters runners for making it a great experience. And Tony, you are an elite athlete.
Having waited a lifetime to run at the famed MSG and prestigious Millrose Games it was going to take more than a recent stress fracture to stop me.I,d like to thank my team mates at Philadelphia Athletic Charities for having faith in me to allow me to forfill my dream and I hope the next time I,m there my preperation won,t include having to run up and down my basement steps in a surgical boot two weeks before the event
Early results were wrong. Stacy Dragila made her first height (4.23) and missed on the next. The world saw her clearance on TV.
Hey Kettrell & Rob Thank you for the kind words! We need to support each other, our sport and as always compete as athletes regardless of the circumstances. See you all soon!
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