HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Capping a successful USATF Masters Outdoor Championships on the final day of competition Sunday at Milton Frank Stadium, the cream of the American masters track and field crop broke two world records and 11 American records.
A familiar face atop the podium in an array of events at world and American championship meets, Flo Meiler (Sprinticity) broke her own women's 90-94 record in the pole vault, clearing 1.30/4-3.25 to add seven centimeters to the record she set last year at Charlottesville. Another women's pole vault record fell in the 40-44 division, with Miranda Smith (Landon Athletics) bettering the American record by going over 3.65/11-11.75. The previous record of 3.50/11-5.75 was set in 2019 by Stephanie Colby.
The day's other world record performance came in the non-club women's 60-64 4x400 relay, where a quartet of Lorraine Jasper, Judy Stobbe, Roxanne Springer, and Sue McDonald stopped the clock at 4:41.63 to chop .22 off the world record and .43 off the ratified American record.
Doubling back after her win in the women's 75-79 5000 race walk Friday, Marianne Martino (High Altitude Race Walk) claimed an American record in the 10K race walk with a 1:08:25.5, almost four minutes better than the ratified record.
Also picking up a second gold and a second American record, Lynn Rathjen (unattached, Hillsborough, Neb.) zipped to a 5:44.41 in the men's 80-84 1500, almost 20 seconds better than Ed Benham's 1987 ratified American record time of 6:04.28. Rathjen won the 800 and set an American record on Saturday.
Rounding out individual American record performances, Ron Stevens (SC Striders) ran 48.10 in the men's 70-74 300 hurdles. Stevens has a pending mark of 48.03 from May 4, and holds the ratified record of 49.04 that was set in 2024.
The Atlanta Track Club garnered three women's club 4x400 American records in the 60-64 (5:34.75), 70-74 (7:14.28), and 75-79 (8:44.43) divisions, and the Greater Philadelphia Track Club added a club American record in the 65-69 (5:38.92) division. SoCal Track Club and the Atlanta Track Club waged a spirited battle in the men's 75-79 4x400, with SoCal coming out on top and running an American club record of 6:42.41. Atlanta's foursome also bettered the previous record with a 6:44.36 for silver.
Full results are here