Posted: August 5, 2007

Athletics: Records fall as USA Masters Outdoor Championships conclude

ORONO, MAINE - More world and American records were broken during the final day of competition of the USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships here Sunday on the campus of the University of Maine. More than 1,100 athletes ages 30 to 95+ competed in the four day event. Numerous records were broken throughout the meet and a number of individuals added to that total before competition came to a close Sunday afternoon. Setting an American record in the 800 meters Saturday wasn't enough for Jeann Daprano (Fayetteville, Ga.) as she shattered the W70 1,500m American record by nearly 20 seconds Sunday in 6 minutes, 22.77 seconds. Daprano also currently holds world records in both the 400m and the mile. Phil Raschker (Marietta, Ga.) completed a full four days of competition by setting a new American record in the W60 300m hurdles. Her time of 52.17 was significantly faster than the current American mark held by Betty Vosburgh with a time of 56.80. A world record was also established in the W40 division of the 4x800m relay by a team competing for the Athena Track Club. Terri Cassel, Mary Grene, Lorraine Jasper and Joan Hunter combined to run 9:46.22, bettering the old world record of 9:51. While she wasn't setting numerous records, Susan Weimer (Freeport, Maine) was making herself well-known in Orono by winning a total of four gold medals in the W40 division. Despite a false start, she blew away the field to win the 400m hurdles in a time of 1:09.41. That gold medal goes with the national championships she earned earlier in the week in the shot put, pentathlon and long jump. Weimer also ran the final leg on her team's second-place 4x100m relay. Including each event in the pentathlon, Weimer competed in a total of nine events throughout the week. "It was really a good week for me," she said. "I feel good right now, but tomorrow I know it's going to be a little different." Jai Black (San Diego, Calif.) set a Masters meet record and concluded a strong sprint performance throughout the meet when she won the 200m dash in the W45 division in a time of 26.02. Black also won the 100m Saturday and the 400m on Friday. Brian Pope (Oxford, Miss.) claimed his third gold medal of the meet when he came from behind to win the M40 1,500m run in a time of 4:10.10. Pope also won the 5,000m and the 10,000m run earlier in the week. "I was most surprised with the 1,500," Pope said. "I normally wouldn't have run it but I did because the team competition will be so close. It's always fun to win, but I'm going to be a little sore." Masters athletes now prepare for the World Championships September 4-15 in Riccione, Italy. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest