ORONO, Maine – One world record and five American records were set Friday at the USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the University of Maine’s Clarence Beckett Family Track & Field Center in Orono.

Men’s and women’s competitions at the Championships are conducted in five-year age groups from 30-34 up to 95 and above. Team and relay competitions are held in ten-year age groups of 30+, 40+, 50+ etc.

Friday’s action was highlighted by Marie Michelsohn winning the W60 2,000m steeplechase in the new world record time 8:47.67. Another record was set in steeplechase competition as Bob McCusker won the M50 3,000m steeplechase in the American record time of 10:30.34. An additional American record was set in the women’s discus throw today as Carol Finsrud won the W45 division with a throw of 47.69m/156-6.

In other record performances, after winning the W55 pentathlon and pole vault with new world records on Thursday, all-time masters great Phil Raschker added to her gold medal collection on Friday by winning the W55 long jump by a huge margin over her nearest competitor. Raschker won the event with a wind-aided best of 4.90m/16-0.75. Kathy Jager was the runner-up with a best of 3.49m/11-5.50. Raschker’s jump of 4.82m/15-9.75 during the competition was wind-legal and qualifies as a new American record.

Raschker also won the W55 80m hurdles today in 13.03 seconds, giving her four U.S. titles thus far at this year’s Championships. “I wanted the world record today in the long jump, but I’m not quite ready for that this year,” she said. “The competition in the hurdles was terrific. It really pushed me to perform well.”

Another American record was set in the women’s long jump on Friday as Veronica Amarasekara of the Southern California Track Club won the W40 national title with a leap of 5.49m/18-0.25, and in the W65 age-group, Jeanne Daprano set a new AR in the 400 meters of 1:12.72.

Other women’s long jump winners on Friday included Kimiko Nakatake (W30-4.65m/15-3.25) and Anna Wlodarczyk (W35-5.00m/16-5).

In men’s pole vault action today, Vincent Struble won the M50 division with a clearance of 4.32m/14-2, and Tomlinson Rauscher won the M55 group with a best of 3.35m/10-11.75.

In men’s discus competition, David Schlothauer won the M80 competition with a best of 23.57m/77-4. Other winners included Bruno Maki (M85-20.78m/68-2), and Phillip Brusca of the Midwest Masters T&F Club, who won his division’s shot put competition on Thursday, won the M75 discus throw this afternoon with a best of 35.02m/114-11. Wendell Palmer of the Dallas Masters TC won the M70 class with a best of 43.21m/141-9, and Ron Anderson won the M65 division with a heave of 49.69m/163-0. The M60 class winner was Richard Cochran (53.27m/174-9), and Thomas Fahey won the M50 group (51.61m/169-4). Art Swarts won the M55 discus competition with a best of 50.60m/166-0. 1972 Olympic Games hammer finalist Tom Gage was third in the M55 competition (46.67m/153-1).

Glenn Thompson added to his shot put title won on Thursday by winning the M35 discus throw with a best of 52.09m/170-11. Other men’s discus winners were Warren Taylor (M40-46.60m/152-11), James Wetherhall (M45-43.40m/142-5) and Thomas Fahey (M50-51.61m/169-4).

Judy Fetherston won the W70 division discus throw with a best of 16.31m/53-06, and Evaun Williams captured the W60 class with a throw of 29.73m/97-6. Lorraine Tucker won the W55 group with a best of 25.08m/82-03, Mary Hartzler of Team Ohio won the W50 title with a heave of 29.51m/96-10 and Jane Decker of Staten Island, N.Y., won the W37 group with a throw of 31.59m/103-8. Oeitha Lewis of the New York Masters Sports Club won the W40 class with a best of 43.76m/143-7.

In other field event action, Barbara Cleveland won the W60 long jump with a best of 3.95m/12-11.50. Other women’s long jump national champions included Audrey Lary of the Potomac Valley TC (W65-3.69m/12-1.25), Johnnye Valien of the Southern California TC (W75-2.56m/8-4.75) and Olga Kotelko (W80-2.13m/7-0).

After winning the M60 pentathlon national title on Thursday, Emil Pawlik bounced back to win the long jump in that division on Friday with a leap of 4.87m/15-11.75. William Daprano of the Atlanta TC won the M75 long jump with a best of 3.93m/12-10.75. Other men’s long jump winners included Edwin Lukens (M80-3.58m/11-9), and Leland McPhie, who competed in the M85 division unopposed (2.38m/7-9.75). Phillip Shipp won the M65 group with a best of 4.21m/13-9.75.

Brian Campbell soared above the competition in winning the M45 high jump with a clearance of 5-10.75, and Gregory Carney was unchallenged in the M30 division (1.81m/5-11.25).

Women’s 400m national champions today included Kathleen Shook (W40-1:03.71), Denise McField (W45-1:02.36), Margaret Curtis (W50-1:06.38), Lynn Naftel (W55-1:08.89), Lynne Ingalls (W60-1:12.93), Nancy Smalley (W75-1:47.19) and Gerry Davidson (W80-2:03.62).

Men’s 400 meter champions were Marek Wensel (M30-49.76), Kettrell Berry (M35-53.15), Sal Allah (M40-49.96), Ben James (M45-51.67), Edward Gonera (M50-51.63), Roger Pierce (M55-55.52), Don McMillan (M60-59.91), Larry Colbert (M65-1:00.73), Earl Fee (M70-1:4.32), Harold Johnson (M75-1:19.80), Jim Manno (M80-1:23.04 and Bob Matteson (M85-1:35.34.

Women’s 2,000m steeplechase champions Friday were Pam Allie-Morrill (W35-7:46.73), Emily MacDonald (W40-8:24.73) and Mary Trotto (W55-10:15.60).

Frank Haviland of Shore AC won the M65 2,000m steeplechase in 8:29.25 and Vern Christensen won the M60 steeple in 8:21.94. Men’s 3,000m steeplechase champions were James Robinson of the Genesee Valley Harriers (M45-10:32.14), Bob McCusker of Hartford TC (M50-10:30.34) and Steve Prouty (M55-12:07.0).

Women’s 80-meter hurdles winners Friday were Anke Moritz (W40-11.82), Irene Thompson (W45-13.73), Anna Wlodarczyk (W50-13.10), Ann Carter (W60-18.39) and Barbara Jordan (W65-17.38).

Emil Pawlik won his third national title at this year’s Championships with his victory in the M60 100m hurdles in 15.92. Other men’s 100m hurdles winners were Thad Wilson (M50-15.21), Robert Baker (M55-16.96) and William Jankovich (M65-21.20). James Stookey won the M70 80m hurdles in 13.98.

Men’s 110m hurdles winners were Don Drummond (M30-14.36), David Ashford (M35-14.11), Dexter McCloud (M40-14.88) and Robert Zahn (M45-16.45).

Women’s 5,000m race walk champions on Friday included Jean Tenan (W35-28:50.02), Kathy Frable (W55-30:8.26), Elton Richardson (W60-31:02.91) and Bev LaVeck (W65-30:10.12). Clare Elkins competed unopposed in the W70 group, completing the race in 41:16.16.

In men’s 5,000m race walk action, Dave McGovern won the M30 division in 22:43.03. Other winners were Rod Craig of the Pegasus Athletic Club (M40-24:15.65), Bill Reed, also of Pegasus AC, (M45-26:35.51), Bohdan Bulakowski (M50-25:18.42) and Leon Jasionowski of Pegasus AC (M55-24:58.05).

Other men’s race walk winners included Paul Johnson of the Florida Athletic Club (M60-26:52.28), Jack Bray of the Marin Race Walkers (M65-27:14.82), Alfred Dubois of the Parkside Athletic Club (M70-28:57.77) and William Peterson (M85-45:18.36).

Competition begins again Saturday morning and will continue through Sunday. For more information on the 2002 USA Masters Outdoor Championships, including the complete results, visit www.usatf.org.

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