Folders |
2018 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships bring 900 athletes to Spokane, Washington - USATFPublished by
2018 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships bring 900 athletes to Spokane, Washington7/26/2018
SPOKANE, Washington – The USA Track & Field (USATF) Masters Outdoor Championships will be held at the Eastern Washington University's Roos Field, July 26-29, and feature over 900 of the U.S. and world’s best track and field athletes. There will be 18 USATF Masters Track and Field Hall of Famers, 26 Indoor and Outdoor World record holders, and 62 Indoor and Outdoor American record holders. Of the World Outdoor record holders entered (19), they hold a total of 46 world records between them! There will also be 112 Washington State athletes and 19 from the Spokane area are in the meet. (Spokane area athletes are listed below). "Many of the athletes here in Spokane are doing their final tune-up before going to Malaga, Spain to compete in the World Masters Championships (the 'Olympics' of the Masters Track & Field world). I couldn't be prouder of our USATF Team: Athletes, Officials, and Administrators. We are truly working together to become the “world's number one masters track and field team." - Rex Harvey, USATF Masters Track and Field Chair Among the competitors are last year's 2017 USATF Masters Athlete of the year Sabra Harvey, 69, of Houston, TX. World Masters Association (WMA) Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year in 2017 and 2012, Bob Lida, 81, of Wichita, KS, who set world M80 records in both the 200 and 400m at the WMA Indoor Championships in 2017. Also present will be former WMA Athletes of the Year; Irene Obera, (2016), Rita Hanscom (2009), Charles Allie (2013) and Canadian Citizen Christa Bortignon (2013). Also participating are the meet's oldest two competitors, 100 year-old Orville Rogers of Dallas, TX who set two centenarian (M 100-104) indoor world records last year, and Roy Englert, 95, who was set world marks in his 95-99 age group indoors in the 800m, 1500m, and 3000m at the 2018 USATF Masters Indoor Championships. Other notables present include NFL great Willie Gault, 57, of Encino CA, an American and World outdoor record holding sprinter and 3-time Olympian Michelle Rohl, a 22-time U.S. Racewalking Champion, American Record holder, and Pan Am Games medal winner. Rohl will be running an exhibition 800m and 1500m. Additional outstanding world record-setters are entered: Throwers: George Mathews, 74, WA; Linda Cohn, 66; Carol Finsrud, 61, TX; Oneithea Lewis, 58, NY; Quenton Torbert, 66, CA; and William Plants, 90, of Boise ID . Kathy Bergen, 78, CA and Bruce McBarnette, 60, VA, are both world record holders in the High Jump. In Pole Vault, Hall of Fame member and World Record holder John Altendorf, 72, will be showing his vaulting skills alongside Gary Hunter, 62 of Fort Wayne, IN. In distance Sharon Gerl, 70, OR and Jeanne Daprano, 81, GA, will both run the 1500m. SPOKANE AREA ATHLETES: Among the 112 Washington State athletes, 19 of those athletes are from the Spokane area. Local athletes in the throws are Kyle Unland, 51 Ryan Weidman, 46 and Marty Swager, 58. Taking on the sprints are Scientist, USATF sprint Coach and Athlete Gail Kuhnly, 56; Caroline Cooney, 71; Keera Payne, 35; Daniel Mendenhall, 62 and 70 years young Jon Heimbigner are all running the 80M hurdles. Samantha Cooney Starr, 39, will also do the jumps and Pent. Chris Morlan, 51, will run the 5000m, along with these other age group athletes, Lou Karl, 62, Heath Robertson, 35, Heather LeFriec, 46, Anja Goetzinger, 31, Carl Combs, 52, and Kyle McNaught-Davis, 40. Jon Neill, 44 and John Statham, 68 will run the 1500m. Roger Vergin, 80, of Poulsbo, WA, who won seven medals at the 2017 Albuquerque USA Indoor Masters, is entered in eleven events. Link to Schedule: https://tinyurl.com/yalvzjhv List of athletes competing, awards, hometown, and events: https://tinyurl.com/y8xbyaps World Masters Championships: Many of the athletes are going on to compete in the World Masters Championships in Spain September 4-16. USATF Masters Chair Rex Harvey hopes to lead #TeamUSATF to be the " world's number one masters track and field team." Cheer on and follow the results at: https://www.facebook.com/usatfmasterstrack/ https://twitter.com/USAMastersTrack @usatfmasters on Instagram https://malaga2018.com/GO/eng_index.htm
Special Thanks to: Mary Trotto, Rachel Guest, and Jay Wind for assistance compiling this material.
About USATF Masters: USA Track & Field (USATF) is the national governing body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF Masters encompasses its over-30 division whose competitors exemplify lifelong fitness and competition. Visit the USATF website for more information at www.usatf.org Media Contacts Ashley Mitchell Sandy Triolo, 240-258-8226 Bob Wiener, 301-283-0821, 202 -306-1200 More news |
