Legends rewrite records at USA Masters Indoor Championships

BOSTON - Some of the best-known and most successful athletes in masters track & field history made their marks on the record books Friday during opening day competition at the 2006 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center.

Legendary Betty Jarvis of Aberdeen, N.C. set a pending world record in the W90 weight throw with her mark of 5.23m/17-2, as she recently entered the age group. Other women's weight throw winners were Cindy Latham, W35, 9.75m/32-0; Heather Scanlon, W40, 7.75m/25-5.25; Susan Hallen, W45, 8.30m/27-2.75; Ruth Welding, W50, 12.90m/42-3.5; Mary Roman, W70, 9.63m/31-7.25, and Lillian Snaden, W75, 7.75m/25-2.5.

Another legend, Johnnye Valien of Los Angeles, made the most of entering the W80 age division by breaking the listed WR in the pole vault with a clearance of 1.25m/4-5, besting American Margaret Hinton's 2002 mark of 1.20m/3-11.25. Other women vaulting to victory were Pamela Swan, W40, 2.82m/9-3; Liz Johnson, W45, 1.80m/5-10.75; Rita Hanscom, W50, 2.60m/8-6.25; and Nadine O'Connor, W60, 2.92m/9-7.

Paul Heitzman of Eudora, Kan., celebrated entering a new age group by promptly annihilating the American record in the 3,000 meters. The newly minted 75-year-old ran 12:52.22 to smash the listed record of 13:10.84 by Alfred Funk, which had stood since 1993. Other winners in the 3,000 were Clint Santoro, M30, 9:22.21; Kent Lemme, M35, 8:52.53; Peter Magill, M40, 8:43.12; Robert Barber, Blake Wood, M45, 9:04.50; Stephen Shantry, M50, 9:23.65; Robert Price, M55, 10:11.30; M60, 10:44.66; Tom Weddle, M65, 12:29.69; Bill Spencer, M70, 12:17.94; and Roy Englert, M80, 17:25.43.

Robert Hewitt crushed the listed American in the M70 pentathlon, his score of 3,716 shattering the mark of 3,547 by Bill Jankovich set last year. Other winners in the men's pentathlon included John McKenzie, M40, 2,773; Winchester Johnson (CAN), M45, 3523 and Jeff Brower, 3,446; Jeffrey Watry, M50, 3,656; Gene Iwen, M55, 3,020; James Hollister, M60, 3,824; Bob Fulton, M65, 2,595.

Kathy Martin of Northport, N.Y., once again defied age, posting the fastest time of any woman in 3,000-meter competition. The 54-year-old 2004 USATF Masters Athlete of the Year finished in 10:42.94, well ahead of W40 winner Wanda Toro Scheib (10:49.98) and even W35 winner Shebna Olsen (10:55.22). Anne Hird won W45 in 11:18.50, and Carolyn Smith-Hanna won W55 (11:44.53).

More winners

Winning titles in early competition in the men's weight throw were Bob Ward, M70, 18.62m/61-1.25; William Garrahan, M75, 12.32m/43-5; Richard Mulkern, M80, 12.44m/40-9.75; David Schothauer, M85, 8.45/27-8.75; Leland McPhie, M90, 6.29m/20-7.75.

Women's pentathlon winners were Terri Lowe, W35, 1,134; Caren Ware, W40, 2,749; B.J. Freeman (CAN), W45, 3,049 and Liz Palmer, 2,663; Irene Thompson, W50, 3,660; Mary Trotto, W55, 1,419; and Christel Donley, W70, who at age 71 was just one point off the W70 world record she set at last year's championships. The Colorado Springs resident's score in Boston was 4,102.

For complete results, visit www.usatf.org