Assault on record books continues at Masters Indoors3-29-2003BOSTON – The waterfall of pending new world and American records continued Saturday at the 2003 USA Track & Field Masters Indoor Championships at Boston’s Reggie Lewis Center. Five certain world records – four of them which stand as American records as well – and seven additional American records were set on the day. With one day of competition still remaining, nine world records and 22 American records have been set at the meet. Marie-Louise Michelsohn set the first WR of the day, in the women’s 60-64 mile run. The 61-year-old from Stony Brook, N.Y., ran 6 minutes, 2.49 seconds to break her own previous record of 6:05.7, set in 2002. It was the second world record of the year for Michelson, who earlier in 2003 broke the 60-64 mark in the 3,000 meters. “I felt great,” said Michelsohn, who credits her coach of three years, Pete Squires, for getting her in record form. “I didn’t overdo it, and I had it at the end. I should have kicked sooner.” Harold Morioka, a Canadian living in Surrey, N.Y., capitalized on his 60th birthday February 2 by setting a pending men’s 60-64 world record in the 400 meters with his time of 55.67, beating the record of masters legend Larry Colbert (56.32). “I competed at the University of Washington and ran 54.56 against the young guys,” said Morioka, who also holds 400m world records indoors for men’s 50-54 and 55-59. “I took the first lap too slow today. Outdoors, I’ll be looking for 54 flat.” Forty-five-year-old Bruce McBarnette of Sterling, Va., cleared 1.93 meters/6 feet, 4 inches easily to break the world record of 1.92m/6-3.5 by Mark Chelnov of the Soviet Union, set in 1990. “I felt as if I had a pretty good approach, but I was losing a little bit of control with my speed,” said McBarnette, who jumped for Princeton University during his collegiate days. “I’m satisfied to get 1.93, but I know I can do better.” Other athletes breaking world records Saturday were 86-year-old Bob Matteson (Bennington, Vt.) in the men’s 85-89 400m (1:38.25), and 65-year-old Harold Tolson of San Diego in the men’s 65-69 60m hurdles (8.05). American records were broken by 54-year-old Margaret Curtis of Richmond, Vt., in the women’s 50-54 400m (1:03.81). Curtis’ performance was especially remarkable given that she is at the upper range of her age group. Baton Rouge, La., resident Lesia Batiste (41) broke the women’s 40-44 American records in the 60m (7.96) and 400m (57.40). Her 60-meter time is better than the official masters world record, but 40-something Merlene Ottey, who competed earlier this month at the IAAF World Indoor Championships, has run substantially faster. Also on the women’s side, 68-year-old Audrey Lary of Frederick, Md., went 3.87 meters/12-75 in the 65-69 long jump to set an American record. Still more American records were turned in by the men on Saturday. In the men’s 65-69 400m, 65-year-old Charles Allie ran 55.31 for a new record; 76-year-old Rodney Browne of St. George, Utah, ran 1:10.09 for 400m in the 75-79 group; in the 85-89 60m hurdles, 85-year-old Alfred Guidet of California City, Calif., ran 18.26; and the men’s 30-39 4x400m relay of Brian Hickey, Kerri Sloan, David Nasn and Christopher Yorges ran 8:15.86. All records are pending ratification. Everett Hosack, the 101-year-old phenomenon from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, continued a busy weekend in Boston by running 27.91 seconds for 60 meters and throwing 3.44m/11-3.5 in the shot put. Both marks were just off his own 100+ world records. Friday, Hosack posted a mark of 4.71m/15-5.5 in the weight throw. The Masters Indoor Championships continue Saturday and Sunday at the Reggie Lewis Center, which also played host to the 2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 1-2. For complete results from the Masters Indoor Championships, visit www.usatf.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |