Posted: August 6, 2004

Athletics: World Records fall on day 1 at USA Masters Outdoor Championships

DECATUR - Two world records fell in the men's pole vault to open the first day of competition at the USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Millikin University's Frank M. Lindsey Field in Decatur, Illinois.

Bud Held of Del Mar, Calif., cleared 2.96 meters/9 feet, 8.50 inches to set a M75 record in the pole vault. The 76-year-old Held bettered the 2.95m/8.00 set in 1997 by 75-year-old at the time, William Bell of Jonesboro, Ark. The 82-year-old Bell maintained his name in the masters pole vault record book with his clearance of 2.60m/8-6.25 to better the world M80 pole vault record of 2.51m/8-2.75 set in 1992 by American Carol Johnston. Robert Hewitt cleared 2.75m/9-0.25 to win the M70 age group.

Roger Kroodsma of Thorn Hill, Tenn., won the M60 pentathlon with 4,021 points. The 60-year-old won the long jump (5.03m/16-6), javelin throw (40.87m/134-1), discus throw (38.56m/126-6) and the 1,500m (5:31.44). Other pentathlon winners were Leslie Young (M30-2,961), Marek Wensel (M35-3,228), Scott Williams (M40-3,075), Ken Ellis (M45-3,498), Bill Murray (M50-3,557), Darryl Decker and Robert Baker tied (M55-3,193), Emil Pawlik (M65-3,714), M70-Bill Jankovich (M70-3,419), Denver Smith (M75-3,123), Bill Carter (M80-3,234) and Daniel Bulkley (M85-2,791).

Flo Meiler scored the most points by any woman in today's pentathlon. The 70-year-old had a total of 3,996 to win the W70 age group. Other winners were Regina Richardson (W35-2,565), Joanne Petkus (W45-2,143), Kay Glynn (W50-3,567), Dorothy Jean Vander Cruys (W55-2,692), Ann Carter (W60-1,886) and Barbara Jordan (W65-3,611).

In what turned out to be a highly contested match in the women's W65 shot put, Cherri Sherrard of Vallejo, Calif., tossed 9.64m/31-7.50 to edge runner-up JoAnn Grissom of Indianapolis, Ind., who threw 9.41m/30-10.25. Other shot put winners include Marianne Neuber (W60-8.88m/29-1.75), Gloria Bortell (W70-7.23m/23-8.75), Bernice Holland (W75-6.38m/20-11.25) and Olga Kotelko (W85-4.09m/13-5).

The men's shot put winners were Bob Ward (M70-13.40m/43-11.75), Jim Gerhardt (M75-11.43m/37-6), William Nettles (M80-9.06m/29-8.75), David Schlothauer (M85-7.11m/23-4) and Leland McPhie (M90-6.32m/20-9).

Brian Pope of Oxford, Miss., ran 15:26.90 to clock the fastest time out of all the age groups in the men's 5,000m. The 41-year-old Pope held off M40 runner-up David Olshan (15:47.53) and third-place finisher Paul Risch (15:51.69). The other men's 5,000m winners were Michael Resterhouse (M30-18:11.53), Robert VanCleve (M35-16:43.98), Eric Putnam (M46-16:02.37), Charlie Gray (M50-16:37.96), Nolan Shaheed (M55-16:35.60), Rick Stetson (M60-18:09.34), Thom Weddle (M65-20:02.16), Bill Iffrig (M70-22:01.55), Luis Torres Rosa (M75-27:06.30), Roy Englert (M80-30:27.75) and William Benson (M85-34:45.54).

In the women's 5,000m winners included Judith Wilson (W35-18:30.14), Karen Jeffers (W40-18:51.40), Kathy Martin (W50-18:19.69), Mary Harada (W65-25:59.45), Lois Gilmore (W70-27:21.74), Lynette Lucess (W75-36:22.72), and Gerry Davidson (W80-35:42.26).

In the women's hammer throw the 2004 national champions are Jacqueline Nasca (W31-37.76m/123-11), Kelly Thompson (W35-26.40m/86-7), Oneithea Lewis (W40-51.30m/168-8), Carol Finsrud (W45-40.17m/131-9), Joyce Taylor (W50-33.08m/108-6) and Mary Hartzler (W55-37.94m/124-6). The men's hammer throw winners were 1972 Olympic Games Tom Gage (M60-59.03m/193-8) and Dick Hotchkiss (M65-40.23m/132-0).

Thomas Fahey of Chico, Calif., threw 48.55m/159-3 to win the M55 discus throw in a close contest against runner-up Tino Martinez of Ballwin, Mo., who had a mark of 48.08m/157-9. Other men's discus throw winners are Dennis Umshler (M50-47.78m/156-9).

In the women's pole vault, 50-year-old Rita Hanscom cleared 2.75m/9-0.25 to post the best mark by any woman on Thursday. Other pole vault winners were Pamela Willard (W40-2.65m/8-8.25), Liz Johnson (W45-1.55m/5-1), Hillen Stubendorff (W55-2.65m/8-8.25), Nadine O'Connor (W60-2.65m/8-8.25), Becky Sisley (W65-2.15m/7-0.50), Flo Meiler (W70-1.85m/6-0.75) and Johnnye Valien (W75-1.35m/4-5).

The javelin throw winners were Kristopher Williams (M35-50.36m/165-3), Scott Hannay (M40-56.77m/186-3) and Dennis Morris (M45-54.69m/179-5).

For more information on the 2004 USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships visit www.usatf.org.