ORONO, ME - 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.