Five Olympians, 45 world champions, three 95-year-olds among entrants for 2009 USA Masters Championships

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Contact:
Jill M. Geer
USA Track & Field
Chief Public Affairs Officer
508-520-1529; Jill.Geer@usatf.org


Five Olympians, 45 world champions, three 95-year-olds among entrants for 2009 USA Masters Championships

OSHKOSH, Wis. - Many of the world's best athletes, including six Olympians, 45 reigning world masters champions and a trio of 95-year-old wonders, are among the competitors at the 2009 USA Track & Field Masters Outdoor Championships. The meet will take place July 9-12 at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.

More than 1,000 athletes in age groups from 30 to 95 will provide an extraordinary demonstration of speed, power, skill, and endurance at the meet, showing that age is no barrier to lifetime fitness and competition. Track events will range from 100 meters to 10,000 meters, while field events will include the full range of jumps and throws.

Among the Olympians expected to compete is three-time Olympian Ed Burke (M65), who was flag bearer for United States at the 1984 Olympics Opening Ceremony and will contest the hammer throw and weight throw in Oshkosh. Richard Cochran (M70)won the bronze medal in discus at 1960 Rome Games and will compete in that event this weekend. Other Olympians include Karl Smith (M45), entered in the 200m and 110m hurdles; Trish Porter (W45) in the high jump, and Monica Joyce (W50) in the 10,000m.In May, Joyce bettered the listed world age-group record in the 5000 with a time of 16:19.51. See below for complete description of Olympic athletes.

At any masters championship, it is the oldest entrants, as much as the past and current stars, who draw the greatest attention. For the first time in recent memory, three 95-year-olds are entered in the masters championships. Two will face off in the 400 and 800 meters: Masters Hall of Famer Max Springer of Tennessee and Frank Levine of Pennsylvania. The third M95 entrant is Leland McPhie of San Diego, who will battle Springer in the long jump and triple jump. McPhie has set several M95 world records this year, and Levine last month broke the American record in the 400.

For more information on the 2009 USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including schedule of events and a complete listing of entrants, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/USAMastersOutdoorTFChampionships/

Olympians at the 2009 USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Age Group, Name, event entered at the Championships, Olympic performances

M65 Ed Burke (hammer throw, weight throw) was flag bearer for United States at 1984 Opening Ceremony. Was seventh in hammer throw at 1964 Tokyo Games (215-5), 12th in hammer at 1968 Mexico City Games (215-7) and 18th in the qualifying round of hammer in the 1984 Los Angeles Games (221-6) at age 44.

M70 Richard Cochran (discus) won bronze medal in discus at 1960 Rome Games with a toss of 57.16 meters (184-3).

M45 Karl Smith (200, 110 hurdles) Took fifth in semifinals of 400 hurdles (49.58), sixth in Heat 2 of 4x400 at 1984 Los Angeles Games, competing for Jamaica.

W45 Patricia "Trish" Porter (high jump) Cleared 1.84 meters (6-0 1/2) for 19th in the qualifying round of high jump at 1988 Seoul Games, competing as Patricia Morley King.

W50 Monica Joyce (10 km) was fifth in Heat 3 of the 3,000 (8:54.34) at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, competing for Ireland.

Other notable entrants:
M40 Jim Sorensen(800, 1500, 5000, 10 km) Took second in the 1996 Olympic Trials 1500 in Atlanta but fell short of the Olympic qualifying time standard by 0.65 second.
M75 Jerry Smartt (1500, 5000, 10 km) Took fourth in the 1956 Olympic Trials and was an Olympic alternate at 10,000.

20 Reigning World Masters Indoor Champions entered:
Champions at 2008 World Masters Indoor Championships, held in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Events listed are those in which the athletes will compete in Oshkosh:
M40 Don Drummond (400, 110 hurdles, 400 hurdles)
W40 Renee Henderson (100, 200, 400)
W40 Christine Reaser (800, 1500, 5000, 2,000m steeplechase)
W45 Joy Upshaw-Margerum (100, 80 hurdles, long jump)
M50 Val Barnwell (100, 200)
M50 Bruce McBarnette (high jump)
W50 Rita Hanscom (100, 200, 80 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump, long jump, pole vault, pentathlon)
M55 Bill Collins (100, 200, 400)
M55 Jim Broun (100 hurdles)
M55 Nolan Shaheed (5000, 10 km)
W55 Kathryn Martin (800, 1500, 5000, 10 km, 2000m steeple)
M60 Charles Allie (100, 200, 400)
M65 Stephen Robbins (100, 200)
M65 George Mathews (shot put, hammer throw, weight throw)
W65 Marie-Louise Michelsohn (400, 800, 1500, 5000, 10 km, 2000m steeple)
M70 Bob Lida (100, 200, 400)
W70 Jeanne Daprano (200, 400, 800, 1500)
W70 Christel Donley (high jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, javelin, pentathlon)
M80 William Daprano (long jump, discus, javelin, pentathlon)
W80 Johnnye Valien (100, 200, high jump, long jump, triple jump, shot put, javelin)

25 Reigning World Masters Outdoor Champions entered:
(Champions at the 2007 World Masters Championships, held in Riccione, Italy. Events listed are those in which the athletes are entered in Oshkosh):
M40 Chris Grant (400, 400 hurdles)
M45 David Ashford (110 hurdles)
W45 Patricia Porter (high jump)
W45 Joy Upshaw-Margerum (100, 80 hurdles, long jump)
M50 Val Barnwell (100, 200)
M50 Steve Gallegos (400, 800, 1500, 5000)
M50 Marty Krulee (100, 200)
W50 Carol Finsrud (shot, discus, hammer throw, javelin, weight throw)
M55 Bill Collins (100, 200, 400)
M55 Nolan Shaheed (5000, 10 km)
M55 Thad Wilson (100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, long jump)
W55 Kathryn Martin (800, 1500, 5000, 10 km, 2000 steeplechase)
M60 Charles Allie (100, 200, 400)
M60 Robert Baker (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, pole vault, long jump, javelin, pentathlon)
M60 Paul Economides (shot put, discus, hammer throw, weight throw)
M65 Larry Barnum (200, 400, 800)
M65 Bob Cahners (hammer throw, weight throw)
W65 Marie-Louise Michelsohn (400, 800, 1500, 5000, 10 km, 2000m steeple)
W65 Nadine O'Connor (100, 200, 80 hurdles, high jump, shot put, discus, javelin, pentathlon)
M70 Bob Lida (100, 200, 400)
M70 Emil Pawlik (100, 80 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump, long jump, pentathlon)
W70 Jeanne Daprano (200, 400, 800, 1500)
W70 Christel Donley (high jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, javelin, pentathlon)
W75 Thelma Wilson (800, 1500)
W80 Johnnye Valien (100, 200, high jump, long jump, triple jump, shot put, javelin)

CHARTS OF OLYMPIANS AND WORLD CHAMPIONS prepared by Ken Stone of masterstrack.com. For media interviews of athletes or organizers on the track or by phone, see Bob Weiner, National Masters Media Chair, trackside or contact Bob at cells 202-329-1700 or 202-306-1200; also USATF Chief Public Afffairs Officer Jill M. Geer at jill.geer@usatf.org; 508-397-8080.




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