Bob Weiner, USATF Masters Media chair, has shared profiles of entrants in Sunday’s masters exhibitions at the Olympic Trials in Eugene. Event coordinator Mark Cleary says: “In the 16 years of the Masters Invitational Program, this looks to be the highest quality field yet.” Men and women will run 1500 meters, and records are possible, especially by M50 Brad Barton and W50 Sylvia Mosqueda — chasing the 40-and-over youngsters. Seed times are here. Bob’s press release begins: “At famed Hayward Field in Eugene Oregon (University of Oregon), the Olympic Trials Masters Men’s & Women’s 1500 Meter Exhibition Races will be held Sunday, July 3, at 5:07 pm (Women’s Race) & 5:16 pm (Men’s Race)  These races feature several American & World Record holders, & National Champions.”

Continuing:                                                                                                                  

In the Men’s race, top seed and six time National Champion, as well as 2011 World Masters Champion, Randy Wassinger (Age 40) of Kansas City (Kansas City Smoke) has run 3:55.29.  He will be challenged by Neville Davey (Age 45) of California (West Valley Track Club).  John Gardiner (Age 44) of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (Cal Coast Track Club) also has a sub 4 minute time of 3:58.82. 

The other top competitors in the field include Brad Barton of Orem, UT, the current American Record Holder for (M50-54) Age Group in the 1500, and the 3,000 Meter Steeplechase.  Christian Cushing-Murray (Age 48) of California, recently set the (M45-49) American Record for the 1500.  He was a UCLA stand-out, and was a sub 4 minute miler for Santa Monica Track Club in his Open Career.  All 12 athletes in the Men’s Field are between 3:55.29 and 4:08.20. 

“This should produce the strongest over 40 field ever held anywhere in history,” asserts Mark Cleary, USATF Masters Invitational Program Chair.  Other National Champions in this race include:  Peter Brady (Age 44) of New York (Central Park Track Club) who was the 2013, 2014, and the 2015 Masters 800 Meter Outdoor National Champion, Mark Williams (Age 43) of New Jersey (Garmin Runners) who is the reigning two-time 1500 Meter National Outdoor Champion for 2014 & 2015, and Lance Elliot (Age 45) of Minnesota (Run MN) who finished 2nd in the Masters Invitational Program 1500 in 2011, at Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon.

“Not to be overshadowed by the Men, the Women’s Race may be an even stronger field,” says Cleary.

Top seed Kris Paaso (Age 45) of Menlo Park, California (Strava Track Club) has run 4:34.50 this year, and has the pending (W45-49) American Record in the Mile, & the 3,000 Meter.  Kris was also on the 1992 Stanford Volleyball Team that won the NCAA Championship. 

Kris will have competition from Jennifer St. Jean (Age 41) of Darien, CT (Westchester Track Club/Oiselle Volee), who was the (W40-44) Silver Medalist at the World Masters Championships in Lyon, France last year.  Janet McDevitt (Age 42) of Brainbridge Island, WA (Club Northwest) also looks to be a challenger. Grace Padilla (Age 45) of Los Angeles, CA (So Cal Roadrunners) has almost the identical time as McDevitt.  The rest of the field of eight have qualifying times separated by only five seconds. Close behind is Amory Rowe Salem, Renee Tolan, and Sylvia Mosqueda. 

Sylvia Mosqueda (Age 50) of Los Angeles, CA (TeaMosqueeda/Sketchers in her first race back, set a pending American Record in the (W50-54) 1500 Meters, with a time of 4:49.9.  Other notables in the field are Tania Fischer (Age 50) of Santa Monica, CA (The Janes Elite Racing), who is currently ranked #2 in the US (W50-54) 1500 Meters.  Followed by Donna Mills-Honarvar (Age 41) of Mountain Center, CA, and Kim Chula-Maguire (Age 41) of Cumberland, RI (Ronald McDonald House of Providence Running Club), was the 2010 and 2014 National Champion in the 800 and the Mile.  

Christine Gentile (Age 46) of Castle Rock, Colorado (The Janes Elite Racing), was the Bronze Medalist in the (W45-49) 800 Meters at the World Masters Championships, Lyon, France.  She was also a semi-finalist at the 2000 Olympic Trials in the 800 and the 1500 Meters, as well as a two-time All-American at Villanova University. 

Compare these to the 1500 fields at Michigan nationals. Eugene beats ’em all.