Contact: Tom Surber
Media Information Manager
USA Track & Field
(317) 262-0500 x317
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.usatf.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2001
Athletes overcome tough conditions at USA Masters
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Hot and muggy conditions on Friday challenged
competitors during day-three of the 2001 USA Outdoor Masters Track and Field
Championships, where both the temperatures and humidity in Baton Rouge
registered in the high eighties.
For the first time during these Championships, Bernie Moore Track Stadium
on the campus of Louisiana State University was bathed in bright sunshine
during the morning competition. Athletes at the USA Masters Championships
compete for national titles in five-year age groups.
The first event Friday morning was the 10,000 meters where a number of
national champions were determined. In men's competition, Rudy Rocha of Texas
captured the 30-34 division in 33 minutes, 44.18 seconds. Other men's winners
were Brian Pope of Mississippi (M35-32:14.59), Steven Jennings of Oklahoma
(M45-36:52.41), Robert Pratte of New Mexico (M55-38:12.56) and Bill Borla of
Connecticut (M60-37:27.25).
Women's national masters 10K champs were Suzanne O'Malley of Florida
(W40-38:58.79), Yoko Eichel of California (W50-48:16.67), Alicia Kelley of
Florida (W55-52:54.34), Joyce Hodges-Hite of Georgia (W60-1:00:05.20) and
Lois Gilmore of Wisconsin (W70-59:49.21).
In women's javelin competition, Gloria Bortell of Florida won the W70
division with a heave of 20.19 meters/66 feet, 3 inches. Another winner was
Johnnye Valien of Los Angeles, who set a new world record in the pentathlon
of 3,671 points in the W75-79 age-group here on Wednesday. Valien won the W75
javelin with a heave of 17.90/58-9.
Additional women's javelin winners were Katharine Graddick of Florida
(W80-12.07/39-7), Juanita Brookover of North Carolina (W85-11.20/36-9), Becky
Sisley of Oregon (W60-29.06/95-4), Erika Messner of Florida (W65-29.89/98-1),
Tammy Nolen-Mack of California (W35-23.05/75-7), Carol Finsrud of Texas
(W40-32.05/105-2), Ruth Welding from Illinois (W45-25.07/82-3), Lorraine
Tucker of California (W50-28.01/91-11) and Linda Douglass of Texas
(W55-14.94/49-0).
Men's winners in the javelin included James Barr of Virginia
(M30-51.75/169-9), Kenneth Hall of Louisiana (M35-48.22/158-2), Michael
Janusey of Pennsylvania (M40-55.96/183-7), Richard Watson of Arizona
(M45-48.03/157-7), Delmon McNabb of Louisiana (M55-54.66/179-4), Malcolm
Russell of Idaho (M65-38.44/126-1), Greg Geraci of New Jersey
(M50-56.66/185-11), Wayne Morris of Louisiana (M60-43.31/142-1) and Larry
Horine of North Carolina (M70-40.54/133-0).
Athletes competing in early afternoon field events and 100-meter finals
also had to deal with a steady rain shower that brought slightly cooler
temperatures. The showers ended midway through the afternoon, followed
shortly by the return of bright sunshine and warmer temperatures.
Men's 100m national champions determined Friday afternoon included Robert
Koontz of the District of Columbia, who won the M55-59 division in 12.38.
Other winners were James Stookey of Maryland (M70-14.00), Kenny Dennis of
California (M60-12.55), Bill Carter of Oklahoma (M75-15.97), John Means of
Ohio (M80-16.16), Lloyd Williams of New York (M65-13.66), Marion McCoy, Jr.,
of Georgia (M50-11.74), Neville Hodge, Sr., of Maryland (M45-11.09), Derek
Holloway of Connecticut (M40-11.30), Ken Travis of Mississippi (M35-11.27)
and Bwabo Tshimanga of California (M30-11.14).
Champions in the women's 100m included Phil Raschker, who continued her
winning ways at this year's championships with her fifth national title.
Raschker captured the women's 50-54 division 100m crown in 13.56, to go along
with her pentathlon, long jump, pole vault and 80m hurdle titles won earlier
this week in Baton Rouge.
Other women's 100m winners were Lillian Awidi of New York (W33-13.17),
Barbara Cress of North Carolina (W35-13.83), Joy Margerum of California
(W40-12.97), Denise McField of Missouri (W45-13.19), Nadine Lowenstein of New
York (W55-15.22), Barbara Cleveland of Florida (W60-16.04), Marilyn
Fitzgerald of Virginia (W65-16.04), Sumi Onodera-Leonard of California
(W70-18.06), Patricia Peterson of New York (W75-18.07) and Diane Friedman of
Ohio (W80-21.65).
Men's long jump winners were Corwin Jackson from Utah (M30-6.07/19-11),
Aaron Sampson of Utah (M35-6.97/22-10.50) and Bryan Johnson of North Dakota
(M40-6.13/20-1.50). James Lofton, formerly of the National Football League's
Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills, and a future National Football League
Hall of Fame wide receiver, captured the M45-49 division long jump with a
best of 6.61/21-8.25. Other long jump winners were Stanley Druckery of
Wisconsin (M50-5.40/17-8.75) and Edward Jones from Texas (M55-5.50/18-0.50).
In the men's high jump, Davie Perry of California won the M60-64 division
with a clearance of 1.55/5-1. Other winners were James Sauers of Georgia
(M50-1.75/5-8.75), James Cawley of Texas (1.55/5-1), Tom Langenfeld from
Minnesota (M65-1.50/4-11), James Stookey of Maryland (M70-1.35/4-5) and
Robert Boucke of California (M-85-0.80/2-7.50).
Men's 800m national champions were Brad Dittmar from Missouri
(M30-2:00.71), Noah Hinkston, Jr., of Louisiana (M35-1:59.84), Jeff Lindsay
of Oklahoma (M40-1:59.74), Steve Gallegos of Colorado (M45-2:03.24), Alston
Brown of New York (M50-2:03.48), Rich Tucker on Washington (M55-2:14.32), Don
McMillan of Oregon (M60-2:18.80), Frank Haviland (M65-2:28.93), Jim Sutton of
Pennsylvania (M70-2:27.80), Harold Johnson of California (M75-3:10.43), Bill
Tribou of Connecticut (M80-3:25.22), Vincent Malizia of California
(M85-3:52.38,
Women's 800m winners were Devon Joan Sargent of New York (W30-2:20.55),
Donna Rice of Oklahoma (W35-2:24.90), Diane Heil from California
(W40-2:24.59), Peggy Neal of Oregon (W45-2:27.48), Sharlet Gilbert from
California (W50-2:34.69), Marilyn Fitzgerald of Vermont (W65-3:18.12), Sumi
Onodera-Leonard (W70-3:52.78), Lillie Doss of Texas (W75-5:38.50), Lynn
Naftel of California (W55-3:10.88) and Yvette LaVigne of California
(W60-2:56.85).
Winners in Friday's men's pole vault competition were Thad Brady from
Florida (M40-4.35/14-3.25) and Bob Crites of Texas (3.90/12-9.50).
For more information on the 2001 USA Masters Outdoor Championships, visit
the Baton Rouge Sports Foundation Web site at www.brasf.com/masters. Results
will appear on the USATF Web site at www.usatf.org.
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