Record breaking streak continues at USA Masters Indoor

Boise, ID - Many of the world's finest masters athletes kept up the record breaking pace with a flurry of world and American records Saturday at the 2005 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships at Jacksons Track in Nampa, Idaho.

The women's pole vault provided late afternoon fireworks as Nadine O'Connor of California improved her world record in the W60 division. The 63-year-old O'Connor cleared 3.00 meters/9 feet, 10 inches to better her previous world record of 2.88m/9-5.25 set in 2004. Phil Raschker of Marietta, Ga., went head to head against Hillen von Maltzahn to tie a world record in the W55 division. The 58-year-old Raschker cleared 2.76m/9-0.5 to better the 2.70m/8-10.25 mark set in 2004 by Germany's Karin Forster. There was not a jump off for the U.S. title because von Maltzahn is not an American. Other titles Raschker won were the 60m hurdles (W55-12.14), 60m (W55-8.83) and long jump (W55-4.35m/14-3.25).

Melvin Larsen of Ames, Iowa set two world records in the M80 age group divisions of the 60m and 60m hurdles. The 80-year-old ran 11.10 seconds in the 60m hurdles to better 11.65 set in 2001 by Bruno Sobrero of Italy. Earlier in the afternoon, Larson ran 9.27 seconds in the 60m bettering Roderick Parker's American record time of 9.39 set in 1999.

Roderick Parker of Amity, Ark., on the other hand made it harder for Larsen to break another one of his American records by improving his M85 division record in the 60m. The 86-year-old, Parker ran 9.81 seconds bettering his time of 9.86 set in 2004.

Audrey Lary of Frederick, Md., set a world record in the W70 long jump division. The 70-year-old leaped 3.60 meters/ 11 feet, 9.75 inches to better the 3.50m/11-5.75 set in 2003 by Asta Larsson of Sweden. Lary ran 10.26 seconds to set an American record in the W70 division of the 60 meters. She bettered the 10.36 set in 1989 by Mary Bowermaster of Ohio.

Donald Neidig of Las Cruces, N.M., ran 55.91 seconds in the 400m to set an American record in the M60 age group. The 60-year-old, Neidig bettered the 56.32 time set in 1997 by Larry Colbert of Maryland.

Joy Upshaw-Margerum of Los Altos Hills, Calif., ran 9.08 seconds to set an American record in the W40 age group of the 60m hurdles. The 44-year-old, Upshaw-Margerum bettered the 9.60 set in 1991 by Phil Raschker. Other events that Upshaw-Margerum won include 60m (W40-8.04) and long jump (W40-5.38m/17-8).

The men's 60m dash heated up early on as Kettrell Berry of San Diego, Calif., beat Rawle Crichlow of Tempe, Ariz., in a photo finish time of 7.09 seconds in the M40 division. The M70 age group division went down to the wire as Robert Hewitt of Portland, Ore., (8.98), held off James Leggitt of Levelland, Texas, who finished second in 8.99 seconds. Marty Krulee of Rocklin, Calif., (M45-7.26) held off Val Barnwell (M45-7.28) to win his respective division. Stan Whitley Alta Loma, Calif., prevailed in another close 60m finals to win the M55 division in 7.69 seconds. The 59-year-old Whitley edged runner-up finisher Charles Allie of Pittsburgh, Pa., (M55-7.70).

Other 60m champions include, George Joachim of Fort Wayne, Ind., (M30-7.26), Don Drummond of Dallas, Texas, (M35-7.10), Bill Collins of Houston, Texas, (M50-7.60), Paul Edens of Portland, Ore., (M60-7.89), Kenneth Dennis (M65-8.25), Harry Brown of Wauconda, Ill., (M75-8.74), Clarence Trahan of Hemet, Calif., (M90-12.40).

The women's 60m champions were Marjorie Milligan Jackson of Tacoma, Wash., (W35-8.45), Denise McField of St. Louis, Mo., (W45-8.65), Rita Hanscom of San Diego, Calif., (W50-8.41), Kathy Jager of Glendale, Ariz., (W60-9.02), Barbara Jordan of Burlington, Vt. (W65-9.79), Johnnye Valien of Los Angeles, Calif., (W75-12.74) and Olga Kotelko of Vancouver, Canada (W85-13.70).

Christel Donley improved her W70 American record in the 60m hurdles she set in yesterday's competition. The 70-year-old ran 12.83 seconds to win.

Harry Brown of Wauconda, Ill., ran 1:09.10 to set an American record in the M75 age group division. The 75-year-old Brown bettered the 1:10.09 set in 2003 by Rodney Brown of Utah.

Bob Ward of Dallas, Texas, improved his American record in the M70 weight throw division. The 71-year-old Ward tossed 19.64m/64-5.25 to better his 19.09m/62-7.75 mark set in 2004. Other weight throw winners include John Kuemmerlin of Austin, Colo., (M35-12.69m/41-7.75), Ray Biggs of Reno, Nev., (M40-11.71m/38-5), Ken Jansson of Wichita, Kan., (M45-17.16m/56-3.75), Gerald Wojcik of Eugene, Ore., (M75-12.50m/41-0.25) and Richard Mulkern of St. Petersburg, Fla., (M80-12.31m/40-4.75).

John Keston of McMinnville, Ore., set an American record in the M80 division of the mile run. The 80-year-old, Keston ran 6:48.02 crushing the 7:04.20 set in 1979 by Paul Spangler.

The men's pole vault competition was nothing less than stellar as Joe Johnston of Apopka, Fla., and Bruce Hotaling of Rohnert Park, Calif., had to square off in a jump off in the M60 division. The 61-year-old Johnston won with a clearance of 3.20m/10-6. The M65 division ended in a jump off as well with Terry Cannon of San Diego, Calif., beating Bob Fulton of Fort Collins, Colo., with a clearance of 3.05m/10-0). Dennis Phillips of Philomath, Ore., and John Altendorf of Corvallis, Ore., went head to head in the M55 pole vault competition. The 58-year-olds both cleared 3.80 meters /12 feet, 5.5 inches, but Phillips won because of the least amount of misses. Other pole vault winners include Dan West of Eugene, Ore., (M50-4.10m/13-5.25), Deke Conklinm of Stoddard, N.H., (M70-3.05m/10-0), Jerry Donley of Colorado Springs, Colo., (M75-2.65m/8-8.25) and John Cleveland of Bend, Ore., (M80-1.95m/6-4.75).

The women's pole vault champions were Karen Rieger of Indianapolis, Ind., (W40-2.25m/7-4.5), Liz Johnson (W45-1.15m/3-9.25), Kay Glynn (W50-2.75m/9.05) and Becky Sisley (W65-2.05m/6-8.75).

The 2005 high jump champions were Oleg Mysikov of New York, N.Y., (M35-1.80m/5-10.75), Thomas VanZandt of Redondo Beach, Calif., (M40-1.90m/6-2.75), Bruce McBarnette of Sterling, Va., (M45-1.90m/6-2.75), Valeriy Snezhko of Plymouth, Minn., (M50-1.65m/5-5), Al Gabbard of Springfield, Ohio (M55-1.65m/5-5), Barry Kline of Washington, Pa., (M60-1.45m/4-9), Emil Pawlik of Jackson, Miss., (M65-1.40m/4-7), James Ware of Indianapolis, Ind., (M70-1.35m/4-5), Ray Propst of Astoria, Ore., (M75-1.25m/4-1.25) and Ray Maxwell of Alamo, Texas, (M85-1.05m/3-5.25). Leland McPhie of San Diego, Calif., tied his American record in the M90 age group with a clearance of 1.05m/3-5.25. The 91-year-old, McPhie also improved his American record in the M90 age group of the weight throw with a toss of 7.63m/25-0.5. He bettered his 6.96m/22-10 he set in 2004.

The women's 400m winners were Amy Byal of Phoenix, Ariz., (W30-1:08.22), Marjorie Milligan Jackson of Tacoma, Wash., (W35-1:05.60), Kathleen Shook of Zionsville, Ind., (W40-1:02.70), Denise McField of St. Louis, Mo., (W45-1:08.35), Jeanne Brown of Santa Ana, Calif., (W50-1:11.90), Nadine Lowenstein of Clinton, N.Y., (W55-1:09.60), Janice Condon of Chico, Calif., (W60-1:45.55), Margaret Conner of Twin Falls, Idaho (W65-1:54.47), Suzi MacLeod of Bend, Ore., (W70-1:31.45), Helen Schley of Myersville, Md., (W75-1:59.87) and Olga Kotelko of Vancouver, Canada, (W85-2:39.77).

The M35 age group division in the 400m provided some sparks as Sean Maye of Springville, Utah came from behind to beat Robert Thomas of Indianapolis, Ind., in 49.11 seconds. The 38-year-old Thomas finished second in 49.31. Alston Brown of Mount Vernon, N.Y., held off a late sprint from Charles Allie of Pittsburgh, Pa., to win the M55 division in a time of 53.49 seconds followed by Allie's 53.57. Other 400m winners include George Joachim of Fort Wayne, Ind., (M30-51.20), Paul Brown of Lawrenceville, Ga., (M40-51.91), Bennie James of Honeoye Falls, N.Y., (M45-42.53), Robert Lida of Wichita, Kan., (M65-1:01.91), Donald Kane of Portland, Ore., (M70-1:10.15), Bob Wingo of Dallas, Texas, (M80-1:39.21), Roderick Parker of Amity, Ark., (M85-1:26.94) and Max Springer of Knoxville, Tenn., (M90-1:57.99).

The women's long jump winners were Kimiko Nakatake of Long Island City, N.Y., (W30-4.68m/15-4.25), Liz Johnson of Charlotte, N.C., (W45-3.26m/10-8.5), Kay Glynn of Hastings, Iowa (W50-4.49m/14-8.75), Kathy Jager of Glendale, Ariz., (W60-3.87m/12-8.5), Barbara Jordan of Burlington, Vt., (W65-3.42m/11-2.75), Johnnye Valien of Los Angeles, Calif., (W75-2.41m/7-11) and Olga Kotelko of Vancouver, Canada (W85-1.61m/5-3.5).

The men's long jump champions were George Joachim of Fort Wayne, Ind., (M30-6.59m/21-7.5), Todd Anderson of Ridgefield, Wash., (M35-5.72m/18-9.25), Gregory Foster of Lumberton, N.J., (M40-6.64m/21-9.5), Gerasim Hayrapetyan (M45-6.16m/20-2.5), Thaddeus Wilson of Oxnard, Calif., (M50-5.59m/18-4.25), Vance Jacobson of Bainbridge Island, Wash., (4.53m/14-10.5), James Hollister of (M60-4.87m/15-11.75), Emil Pawlik of Jackson, Miss., (M65-4.76m/15-7.5), and Robert Hewitt of Portland, Ore., (M70-4.47m/14-8).

The women's 60m hurdles winners include Liz Johnson (W45-13.16), Kay Glynn (W50-10.99) and Barbara Jordan (W65-12.73). The men's 60m hurdles champions were Don Drummond of Dallas, Texas, (M35-7.99), Dexter McCloud of Atlanta, Ga., (M40-8.37), Peter Grimes of Sacramento, Calif., (M45-8.53), Stacey Price of Albuquerque, N.M., (M50-8.84), Stanley Druckrey of Milwaukee, Wis., (M55-9.69), Courtland Gray of Plano, Texas (M60-9.46), Emil Pawlik of Jackson, Miss., (M65-9.86), Doug Spainhower of Fruit Heights, Utah (M70-10.96) and James Stookey of Dickerson, Md., (M75-10.63).

The men's shot put winners were Chad Lindsay of Lovell, Wyo., (M30-16.22m/53-2.75), John Kuemmerlin of Austin, Colo., (M35-14.48m/47-6.25), Milton Girouard of Aurora, Colo., (M40-14.30m/46-11), Bryan Stewart of Aiken, S.C., (M45-13.71m/44-11.75), Ronald Summers of Jacksonville, Ill., (M50-16.24m/53-3.5), Craig Shumaker of Long & Strong Throwers (M55-14.45m/47-5).

The women's shot put winners were Cindy Latham of West Haven, Conn., (W35-6.63m/21-9), Oneithea Lewis of Bayside, N.Y., (W40-13.76m/45-1.75), Liz Johnson of Charlotte, N.C., (W45-6.63m/21-9), Joan Stratton of Zephyr Cove, Nev., (W50-10.65m/34-11.25), Brenda Matthews of Anaheim, Calif., (W55-8.18m/26-10), Karen Huff of Evanston, Ill., (W60-7.63m/25-0.5), Mary Roman of Norwalk, Conn., (W65-7.95m/26-1), Christel Donley of Colorado Springs, Colo., (W70-7.67m/25-2) and Olga Kotelko of Vancouver, Canada (5.44m/17-10.25).

The women's mile champions were Christine Olen of Boise, Idaho, (W35-5:11.54), Mary Grene of So Cal Track Club (W40-5:27.27), Carla Hervert of Eugene, Ore., (W45-5:22.48), Kathryn Martin of Northport, N.Y., (W50-5:21.48), Jeanette Groesz of Redmond, Ore., (W55-5:55.05), Marie-Louise Michelsohn of Stony Brook, N.Y., (W60-6:17.72), Jeanne Daprano of Atlanta, Ga., (W65-7:25.90), June Machala of Spokane, Wash., (W70-7:28.13) and Gerry Davidson of Fallbrook, Calif., (W80-10:54.48).

Nolan Shaheed of Pasadena, Calif., almost set an American record in the mile M55 division. The 55-year-old ran 4:50.96 and he came close to Victor Heckler's American record of 4:50.22. Other 2005 mile champions were Kareem Lanier of Lincoln University, Pa., (M30-4:35.83), Christopher Yorges of Eugene, Ore., (M35-4:37.53), Tony Young of Redmond, Wash., (M40-4:19.23), Michael Carlson of Boise, Idaho, (M45-4:40.96), James Robinson of Rochester, N.Y., (M50-4:51.18), Colin McArdle of Boston, Mass., (M60-5:14.59), Sid Howard of New York, N.Y., (M65-5:40.66), Gordon McClenathen of Goleta, Calif., (M70-6:47.84), Jack Gray of Fort Worth, Texas, (M75-7:04.64) and Max Springer of Knoxville, Tenn., (M90-11:23.67).

The So Cal Track Club leads the overall combined scores with 184 points after the first day of competition followed by the Oregon Track Club Masters with 117 points.

For more information on the 2005 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships visit www.usatf.org and www.usatf.org/assoc/sr/masters05/index.htm