Posted: October 5, 2004

Athletics: USATF News and Notes

Young, Nay lead Team USA at World Half Marathon Championships

Justin Young and Emily Nay were the top U.S. finishers Sunday at the 2004 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in New Delhi, India.

Young led the men's squad to a 10th place finish by completing the course in 1 hour, 5 minutes, 33 seconds to finish 18th overall. Other U.S. finishers included Josh Cox (47th in 1:08:38), Teddy Mitchell (48th in1:08:39), Nicholas Cordes (49th in 1:08:43) and Kevin Collins (58th in 1:10:32). Team USA's total time was 3 hours, 22 minutes, 50 seconds.

Team USA's women's squad finished seventh in the team competition as Emily Nay led the way by placing 33rd with her time of 1:17:09. Other U.S. finishers included Kimberly Fitchen-Young (35th in 1:17:40), Melissa White (36th in 1:18:42) and Heather Tanner (38th in1:19:48).

Kenya won the men's competition in 3:07:55, and Ethiopia won the women's race in 3:36:00.

A record 64 countries entered the Championships, which were held in Asia for the first time.

For more information on the 13th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, including the complete results, visit www.iaaf.org.

Team USA places second at North American Relay Championships

Former University of Notre Dame standout Ryan Shay led Team USA to a runner-up finish Saturday at the 2004 North American Men's Marathon Relay Championships at the second Road Runner Akron Marathon and Team Relays in Akron, Ohio.

Shay finished the final leg of the relay race four seconds behind Alejandro Suarez, who anchored the Mexican squad to the team title in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 2 seconds. Canada finished third in 2:11:59.

Pre-race favorite Fleet Feet Racing from Louisville, Ky., captured the USA Track & Field National Club Men's Relay Championship by crossing the line in 2:15:24. The USATF women's title was won by adidas Raleigh Track Club of Cary, N.C., with its time of 2:34:17.

Team relay participants ran a full marathon divided into five legs (10 km, 5 km, 10 km, 5 km and 12.2 km.). A total of 3,272 participants competed on Saturday setting a new record for the event.

For more information on the 2004 USATF National club Marathon Relay Championship, visit USATF.orf.

Ricklefs, Nelson win USA 50 Mile Championships

Chad Ricklefs and Laura Nelson won the men's and women's national ultra titles Saturday at the 2004 USA 50 Mile Championships hosted by the Tussey 50-mile Relay and Ultramarathon at Rothrock State Forest in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania.

Ricklefs won the men's ultra race with his time of 5 hours, 53 minutes, 37 seconds. Finishing behind Ricklefs was runner-up Andrew McDowell (6:43:06) and third-place finisher Ryne Melcher (6:55:00).

The men's Masters ultra division race was won by Lou D'Angelo in 8:34:30. Mike Price was the runner-up in 8:35:15, with Joseph Marroquin placing third in 9:07:59.

Laura Nelson easily won the women's ultra division race in 7:06:20, with Jenn Dick the runner-up in 7:48:32. Jody-Lynn Reicher was third in 7:50:40. Suzanne Weightman was the victor in the women's Masters race in 8:42:45. Michelle Lybarger was second in 9:07:59, with Patricia Klaus third in 9:22:02.

For more information on the 2004 USA 50 Mile Championships, visit USATF.orf.

Masters star Hosack passes away

Masters track & field star Everett Hosack died July 29 in North Carolina, USATF has learned. He was 102 years old.

Hosack was an iconic figure at USA Track & Field masters meets since he joined the Over The Hill Track Club (Lake Erie Association) in 1980, setting scores of national and world age-group records even into his second century. The 2003 USA Masters Indoor Championships were his final national championships, where at age 101 he competed in the weight throw, 60-meter dash and shot put. He competed regularly at the USA Masters Outdoor Championships and Penn Relays, as well as local and regional competitions.

Hosack also was a pop culture star, having appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2003 and being part of Penn Relays telecasts. On the Tonight Show, Hosack demonstrated the winning personality - as well as record-setting shot put form - that made him popular with fans and fellow competitors.

Hosack was born and raised in Ohio. In the 1920s, he attended the University of Florida, where he competed in track & field for the first time. He returned to Cleveland before settling in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

The Over the Hill Track Club plans to include a memorial tribute to Hosack at its Nov. 14 banquet at Wellington's Restaurant, located at 783 Alpha Drive in Richmond Heights, Ohio.