BOSTON – It’s nice to be 90 if you’re Max Springer and Leland McPhie, a dynamic duo who between them broke three world records and four American records Saturday at the 2004 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships.

Their historic performances were part of 12 world records and 16 American records that were set during the course of competition Saturday at the Reggie Lewis Center. All records are pending ratification.

Springer, the Knoxville, Tenn., resident who turned 90 in October, continued to break records in every event he contests. Springer broke the men’s 90-94 world record in the 3,000 meters on Friday, then followed up Saturday with a world and American record in the 400 meters (1:57.00) – nearly cutting in half the previous mark of 2:54.0 set by Herb Kirk in 1987 – and an American record in the long jump (3.15m). He also will compete in the 200m, 800m and triple jump in Boston.

“I didn’t expect to set any records,” said Springer of his expectations entering the meet. “I wanted to compete. My time in the 400 was better than I expected. I thought I was a distance runner.”

A masters age-group 800m world champion in 1999, Springer added that competing at masters events has special meaning for him. “It’s about meeting the people, he said. “It makes no difference if you’re 8, 80 or 90 – you have something in common.”

Not to be outdone, fellow 90-year-old Leland McPhie of San Diego broke the world and American records in the high jump with his clearance of 1.05m/3-5.25, then broke the records in the existing shot put with his toss of 6.71m/22-0.25.

Suzi McLeod impressed in the women’s 400 meters with her American record of 1:27.26 for 70-74-year-old women. A former marathoner with a lifetime best of 3:18, run at age 49, McLeod’s athletic career also includes running on the San Diego City College cross country team when she was 49 and 50 years old.

“I’ve never run the 400 before,” said a happy McLeod, a grandmother of two who also is an active alpine skier. “It snows where I live and we don’t have an outdoor track, so I haven’t been able to do very much this winter.”

Canada’s Earl Fee of Mississauga, Ontario, turned in a pair of sizzling, world-record performances. The 75-year-old first ran 5:41.95 in the mile, then came back with 1:06.28 in the 400 meters to set a pair of global marks.

Roderick Parker of Amity, Alaska, also had a stellar day, shattering the world record in the 85-89 men’s 400m with his time of 1:25.14, to break the previous mark of 1:38.05. Earlier in the day, he broke the American record in the 60m with a clocking of 9.86.

Additional world records were set by Alston Brown of Mount Vernon, N.Y. in the men’s 55-59 mile (4:49.33); Ron Summers of Jacksonville, Ill., in the men’s 50-54 shot put (16.65m/54-7.5); the Liberty AC women’s 60-69 4x800m relay team of Catherine Parsi, Regina Wright, Mary Harada and Mardiane Green (13:42.73); Emil Pawlik of Jackson, Miss., in the men’s 65-69 60m hurdles (9.77); and Courtland Gray of Irving, Texas, in the men’s 60-64 60m dash (9.04).

Other American records were set by Kathy Jager of Glendale, Ariz., in the women’s 60-64 60m dash (9.04); men’s American records were set by Sidney Howard of Plainfield, N.J., in the 65-69 mile (5:23.05); Charles Allie of Pittsburgh, Pa., in the 55-59 400 meters (55.19); and Fibo Track Club in the men’s 35-40 4x800m relay (8:11.58).

The 2004 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships conclude Sunday at the Reggie Lewis Center, on the campus of Roxbury Community College.

For complete results from, visit www.usatf.org

Records set at 2004 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships

World records

M50 Shot put Ron Summers (Jacksonville, Ill.) 16.65m/54-7.5 3/27 M55 Mile Alston Brown (Mount Vernon, N.Y./JAM) 4:49.33 3/27 M60 60m hurdles Courtland Gray (Irving, Texas) 9.77 3/27 W60 4x800m relay Liberty AC (C. Parsi, R. Wright, M. Harada, M. Green) 13:42.73 3/27 M65 60m hurdles Emil Pawlik (Jackson, Miss.) 9.77 3/27 M75 400m Earl Fee (Mississauga, Ontario/CAN) 1:06.28 3/27 M75 Mile Earl Fee (Mississauga, Ontario/CAN) 5:41.95 3/27 M75 Shot put Samuel Messita (Pawlet, Vt.) 11.87m/38-11.5 3/27 W75 Pole Vault Leonore McDaniels (Virginia Beach, Va.) 1.80m/5-10.75 3/26 M85 400m Roderick Parker (Amity, Alaska) 1:25.24 3/27 M90 3,000m Max Springer (Knoxville, Tenn.) 23:21.12 3/26 M90 Long jump Max Springer (Knoxville, Tenn.) 3.15m/ 3/27 M90 High jump Leland McPhie (San Diego, Calif.) 1.05m/3-5.25 3/27 M90 Shot put Leland McPhie (San Diego, Calif.) 6.71m/22-0.25 3/27

American records

M35 4x800m relay* Fibo Track Club 8:11.58 3/27 M50 Shot put Ron Summers (Jacksonville, Il) 16.65m/54-7.5 3/27 W50 3,000m Kathy Martin (Northport, N.Y.) 10:23.84 3/26 M55 400m Charles Allie (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 55.19 3/27 M60 60m hurdles Courtland Gray (Irving, Texas) 9.77 3/27 M60 Weight throw* Tom Gage (Billings, Mt.) 22.82m/74-10.5 3/26 W60 60m Kathy Jager (Glendale, Ariz.) 9.04 3/27 W60 4x800m relay Liberty AC (C. Parsi, R. Wright, M. Harada, M. Green) 13:42.73 3/27 M65 60m hurdles Emil Pawlik (Jackson, Miss.) 9.77 3/27 M65 Mile Sidney Howard (Plainfield, N.J.) 5:23.05 3/27 M70 Weight throw* Bob Ward (Dallas, Texas) 19.09m/62-7.75 3/26 W70 400m Suzi McLeod (Bend, Ore.) 1:27.26 3/27 W70 Weight throw* Lillian Snaden (Florence, S.C.) 8.42m/27-7.5 3/26 M75 Shot put Samuel Messita (Pawlet, Vt.) 11.87m/38-11.5 3/27 M85 60m Roderick Parker (Amity, Alaska) 9.86 3/27 M85 400m Roderick Parker (Amity, Alaska) 1:25.24 3/27 M90 400m Max Springer (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1:57.00 3/27 M90 3,000m Max Springer (Knoxville, Tenn.) 23:21.12 3/26 M90 Long jump Max Springer (Knoxville, Tenn.) 3.15m/xx 3/27 M90 High jump Leland McPhie (San Diego, Calif.) 1.05m/3-5.25 3/27 M90 Shot put Leland McPhie (San Diego, Calif.) 6.71m/22-0.25 3/27

* Official world records in weight throw and men’s 35-39 4x800m not kept.