Valle sets world record at 2010 USA Masters Outdoor Championships
SACRAMENTO - Lisa Valle of Albuquerque, N.M., set the world masters W40 steeplechase record for the second time in two weeks Friday at the 2010 USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the A.G. Spanos Sports Complex on the campus of Sacramento State University in Sacramento, Calif. The event runs through Sunday.
Throughout the Championships, many of the world's best athletes ages 30-96 will demonstrate speed, power, skill and endurance, showing that age is no barrier to lifetime fitness and competition. The Spanos Sports Complex was the site of the 2000 and 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials - Track & Field, and will play host to the 2011 World Masters Athletics Championships, July 6-17.
Lisa Valle set the W40 world masters 2,000m steeplechase record when she crossed the finish line in 6:51.92, after setting the previous world record two weeks ago of 6:52.6. "I had it stuck in my head that I wanted to break my record, so I guess I barely made it," she said. "I just tried to stick to my pace and it worked out. I thought I could've broken 6:50, but I'm happy with it here in the heat. It was a good run."
The heat (temperatures in the low 90s) may have affected some competitors, but not Valle. "I'm from Albuquerque, where I train in 90 degree weather at 5,000 feet altitude, so I come prepared and it didn't bother me."
MacLeod posts 400m world record
In women's 400m finals action, Suzy MacLeod won the W75 age group with her world record time of 1:25.40, which is faster than the previous listed world record of 1:27.17 set last year by Margaret Peters of New Zealand. Her time also bested the previous W75 American record of 1:27.41 set by Audrey Lary at the 2009 USA Masters Outdoor Championships in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
American Records set in race walk, steeplechase, shot put, 400m
Maryanne Daniel posted the W50 American 5,000m race walk record with her time of 26:72.0, which bettered the previous listed AR of 26:29.20 by Lynn Tracy in 2004. All-time masters great Kathryn Martin set the W55 2,000m steeple record in winning the national title in that age-group in 8:13.10, which improved upon her own listed AR of 8:23.20 from 2008. Also in the women's 2,000m steeple, Cheryl Bellaire won the W50 title in the American record time of 8:14.35, which far surpasses the previous listed AR of 8:31.15 by Karen Kunz in 2004. Bellaire also won the W50 age group 400m national title this afternoon with her time of 1:06.77.
In men's steeple action, David Taylor won the M60 2,000m steeplechase with his AR of 7:21.09, which improved greatly upon the previous listed record of 7:37.20 by Robert Barber in 2006. Also in men's action, Ty Brown won the M65 100m hurdles in the American age group record time of 15.48. Emil Pawlik posted the previous standard of 15.81 in 2005.
In women's field event action, after setting an American hammer throw record on Thursday, the incredibly versatile Flo Meiler set the W75 American record in the pole vault with her clearance of 1.92m/6-3.50, which bettered her own AR of 1.90m/6-2.75 from 2009. Also in the field, Chrystel Donley won the W75 shot put with a toss of 8.21m/26-11.25, which bettered the listed American record of 7.51m/24-7.75 by Gloria Krug from 2007.
Contrasting styles highlight M50 high jump competition
Masters record holder Bruce McBarnette and former world triple jump record holder Willie Banks staged a fascinating competition in the M50 high jump, demonstrating that contrasting to popular belief, there is still more than one way to clear a bar.
Banks and McBarnette were the final two contestants remaining in the competition when the bar was raised to 1.89m/6-2.25. Banks had two misses before slipping into the pit on his final attempt, which forced him out of the competition in second place after previously clearing 1.86m/6-1.25. Banks watched as McBarnette cleared that height on his second attempt in winning his 23rd-career U.S. title.
The most interesting part of the competition was the contrasting styles of the two competitors. Banks, a National Track & Field Hall of Famer for his prowess in the triple jump, uses a three-step run-up and jumps using the outdated straddle style, while McBarnette jumps with the modern day Fosbury Flop, with an extended run-up of 81 feet, 7 inches.
McBarnette, who is an 8-time world masters champion, showed his appreciation for Banks following the competition. "You don't see many people who are using the straddle, and you certainly don't see anybody using it with that amount of proficiency," said McBarnette. "It takes a tremendous amount of strength to do what Willie is doing and it's a testament to him as an athlete that despite using an antiquated technique he still is able to perform so very, very well."
McBarnette, who owns the listed M50 AR of 1.93m/6-4, took three unsuccessful attempts at 1.95m/6-4.75, but was still pleased with his effort. "Anytime you jump high enough to take a crack at the American record, that's a good day," he said. "I'm particularly pleased because I'm recovering from plantar fasciitis and I really didn't know how it would hold up today, but I was able to perform well and I'm grateful for that."
For more information on the 2010 USA Masters Outdoor Championships, including the complete results, visit: www.usatf.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment