USA Perth World Masters Track Team 2nd In Golds, Overall Medals Among 92 Nations At WMA Meet's Midpoint

PERTH, Australia and WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The USA team is 2^nd in Golds and overall medals at the Sunday mid-point break day at the Perth, Australia two-week World Masters Athletics Championships.  The Americans have 22 Golds, 12 Silvers, 16 bronze, and 50 total medals, behind home team Australia and ahead of Britain (19 golds, 44 total), France (17, 31), and Germany (10, 33).  With 92 nations and 4200 athletes, the meet resumes Monday and concludes Sunday, Nov. 6.

Among the stars to date, Kathy Martin, 65, of Northport, NY, so far has won the 8K W65 Cross-country and followed two days later with a gold WR 19:08 track 5K. Martin is slated to run six races and could win all and set more world marks.

Irene Obera, 82, Freemont CA won the heptathlon with a W80 world mark and in the process, also set a hurdles individual W80 WR. In addition to the completed eight events of the heptathlon, she is in eight individual events.

Bill Collins, 65, Houston, in perhaps the inspirational story of the meet, now recovered from near-death with Guillain-Barre syndrome, dominated the mens' 100 heats and final, ran a 12.18 final with a clear world mark by two-tenths, but the wind exceeded the allowance. Collins is next scheduled to run the 200, 400, and relays.

Home team Australia has the most athletes with 1400, Britain has the next most with 280, and USA is next most represented with 243 in this meet bringing together the world's best masters track & field athletes.

Russia has been banned from the competition by IAAF, of which WMA is part, for their overall track team's doping violations. At today's WMA General Assembly meeting, President Stan Perkins emphasized the importance of anti-doping rules and laid out the issue in the clearest terms: "While many think medications on the banned list should be allowed for health and the aging process, we stay within the rules set by the IAAF because the reputation of our sport is at stake.  Medals are being taken if athletes cheated. We have to be supportive." He added that the process must have an "open component" and not just be a "closed" meeting discussion.

Many USA delegation leaders were commended by Perkins and other speakers, as they were called on for motions and comments during the WMA meeting on the world body's finances, administration, and upcoming championships:  Delegation Chair Gary Snyder, Carroll Deweese, and Phil Greenwald.  Perkins asked long time USA and international technical expert Rex Harvey, who lost to Perkins as WMA President years back by one vote, to give a special address. Rex had asked Stan if he could address the meeting to thank them for the award he received last year.  Rex stated that he felt he didn't properly thank Stan and the rest of the delegates last year when he received the award.

Harvey discussed the mission of masters track, its "competitive component but also friendliness," and how "track's runs, jumps, and throws are the basis of all sports."  To a hushed audience, Rex added at the end of his talk that his cancer has subsided, and received large applause.  Robert Thomas and Latashia Key were asked to assist in gathering ballots for several contested votes. 

PERTH WORLD MASTERS USA MEDAL WINNERS TO DATE
Chart by Mary Trotto, USATF Masters Awards Chair
Congratulations to the Medal winners

PHOTOS OF MEDALISTS IN ACTION BY ROB JEROME: www.weinerpublic.com/perth.html

 • October 29, 2016 - Day 4 photos 
          • M37 Dedrick Clark 100 Meters Fourth Place 
          • M49, Karnell Vickers, Gold; M47 Reggie Pendland, Bronze, M45 100 Meters 
          • M50 Clinton Aurelian 100 Meters Silver 
          • M56 Don McGee 100 Meters Gold 
          • M65 Bill Collins 100 Meters Gold 
          • M70 Gary Patton 5000 Meters Bronze 
          • M80 Robert Cozens 100 Meters Bronze 
          • W41 Rachel Guest Hept Silver 
          • W82 Irene Obera Heptathlon Gold WR 
      • October 28, 2016 - Day 3 photos 
          • M42 Jeferson Sousa Dec Won Hurdles Bronze Overall 
          • M65 Bill Collins 100M Fastest Qualifying Time 
          • M72 Roger Pierce 100 Meter Prelim Qualified 
          • M73 Gary Snyder 100 Meters Preliminaries 
          • W42 Elizabeth Teague WT Bronze
          • W56 Marie Kay Hept Hurdles Win 
          • W61 Donna Zukas Hept SP Second Place 
          • W69 Mary Trotto Hept HJ 
          • W81 Christel Donley Hep SP Win 
          • W82 Irene Obera Hept 80M Hurdles WR 
          • W82 Irene Obera Hept HJ 3-way tie 
      • October 27, 2016 - Day 2 photos 
          • M42 Jeferson Sousa Decathlon 3rd after Day 1 
          • M50 Thomas Stewens Germany 4th after Dec Day 1 
          • M77 John Park Decathlon Bronze 
          • W48 Emma McGowan 100M Gold Medal Stand 
          • W48 Emma McGowan 100M Gold 
          • W48 Emma McGown 100M Gold with Nicole Alexis, France, W55. 100M Gold
          • W51 Landen Summary 800 Prelims Best Time 
          • W56 Nicole Alexis France 100M Gold 
          • W76 Kathy Bergen 100 M Gold 
          • W81 Christel Donley TJ Gold Medal Ceremony 
          • W82 Irene Obera 100M Gold 
          • W90 Shirley Dietderich 100 meters Gold 
      • October 26, 2016 - Day 1 photos 
          • W38 Brandi Bernert 100 Meters Preliminaries Qualified 2nd 
          • W42 Kristy Harris PV Gold-02 
          • W42 Kristy Harris PV Gold 
          • W48 Emma McGowan 100 M Preliminaries Qualified 2nd 
          • W81 Mary Roman Hammer 4th Place 01 
          • W81 Mary Roman Hammer 4th Place 02 
      • October 25, 2016 - Opening Ceremonies 
          • Opening ceremonies at Perth, Australia, featuring Gary Snyder, Mary Rosado, Rex Harvey, Bob Weiner, and Ena Weinstein 
          • Opening ceremonies Photo 2 
          • Opening ceremonies Photo 3 
          • Opening ceremonies Photo 4 
          • Opening ceremonies Photo 5 
          • Opening ceremonies Photo 6 
          • Opening ceremonies Photo 7

Contact: Bob Weiner, USATF National Masters Media Chair 202-329-1700
[email protected]

SOURCE USATF National Masters Media Committee and Robert Weiner Associates