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|  Dynamic 90-Year-Old Duo Rewrites Record Books At USA Masters Indoor Championships March 29, 2004 Courtesy of USATF
Their historic performances were part of 12 world records and
16 American records that were set during the course of
competition Saturday at the Reggie Lewis Center. All records
are pending ratification. Springer, the Knoxville, Tenn., resident who turned 90 in
October, continued to break records in every event he contests.
Springer broke the men's 90-94 world record in the 3,000 meters
on Friday, then followed up Saturday with a world and American
record in the 400 meters (1:57.00) - nearly cutting in half the
previous mark of 2:54.0 set by Herb Kirk in 1987 - and an
American record in the long jump (3.15m). He also will compete
in the 200m, 800m and triple jump in Boston. "I didn't expect to set any records," said Springer of his
expectations entering the meet. "I wanted to compete. My time
in the 400 was better than I expected. I thought I was a
distance runner." A masters age-group 800m world champion in 1999, Springer added
that competing at masters events has special meaning for
him. "It's about meeting the people, he said. "It makes no
difference if you're 8, 80 or 90 - you have something in
common." Not to be outdone, fellow 90-year-old Leland McPhie of San
Diego broke the world and American records in the high jump
with his clearance of 1.05m/3-5.25, then broke the records in
the existing shot put with his toss of 6.71m/22-0.25. Suzi McLeod impressed in the women's 400 meters with her
American record of 1:27.26 for 70-74-year-old women. A former
marathoner with a lifetime best of 3:18, run at age 49,
McLeod's athletic career also includes running on the San Diego
City College cross country team when she was 49 and 50 years
old. "I've never run the 400 before," said a happy McLeod, a
grandmother of two who also is an active alpine skier. "It
snows where I live and we don't have an outdoor track, so I
haven't been able to do very much this winter." Canada's Earl Fee of Mississauga, Ontario, turned in a pair of
sizzling, world-record performances. The 75-year-old first ran
5:41.95 in the mile, then came back with 1:06.28 in the 400
meters to set a pair of global marks. Roderick Parker of Amity, Alaska, also had a stellar day,
shattering the world record in the 85-89 men's 400m with his
time of 1:25.14, to break the previous mark of 1:38.05. Earlier
in the day, he broke the American record in the 60m with a
clocking of 9.86. Additional world records were set by Alston Brown of Mount
Vernon, N.Y. in the men's 55-59 mile (4:49.33); Ron Summers of
Jacksonville, Ill., in the men's 50-54 shot put (16.65m/54-
7.5); the Liberty AC women's 60-69 4x800m relay team of
Catherine Parsi, Regina Wright, Mary Harada and Mardiane Green
(13:42.73); Emil Pawlik of Jackson, Miss., in the men's 65-69
60m hurdles (9.77); and Courtland Gray of Irving, Texas, in the
men's 60-64 60m dash (9.04). Other American records were set by Kathy Jager of Glendale,
Ariz., in the women's 60-64 60m dash (9.04); men's American
records were set by Sidney Howard of Plainfield, N.J., in the
65-69 mile (5:23.05); Charles Allie of Pittsburgh, Pa., in the
55-59 400 meters (55.19); and Fibo Track Club in the men's 35-
40 4x800m relay (8:11.58). The 2004 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships
conclude Sunday at the Reggie Lewis Center, on the campus of
Roxbury Community College. For complete results from, visit
www.usatf.org Records set at 2004 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field
Championships: World records M50 Shot put, Ron Summers (Jacksonville, Ill.), 16.65m/54-
7.5 American records M35 4x800m relay*, Fibo Track Club, 8:11.58 * Official world records in weight throw and men's 35-39
4x800m not kept.
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