USA National Masters Track Championships July 23-26 At Univ. of North Florida, Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville Include World Champions, Olympians, NFL Great, Local Stars Among 1000 Athletes 30-98

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 30 reigning world masters track and field champions who won gold at the last World Masters indoor or outdoor championships and at least two Olympians will be among approximately 1000 athletes 30-98 years old, competing at the USA National Masters Track & Field Championships in Jacksonville, FL, Thursday through Sunday, July 23-26, at University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium.  

The athletes will display speed, strength, and endurance, proving that lifetime fitness is possible for all ages in events ranging from 100 to 10,000 meters, while field events will include the full range of jumps and throws.  This is the first national masters track championship in the Southeast region and resulted from being the winning bid in a competitive presentation process at the USA Track & Field Annual Meeting two years ago.

Many athletes are competing from North Florida. A list of Olympians, national stars, notable local entrants, and others of interest is below.   

The meet showcases many Americans going soon after Jacksonville's nationals to the World Masters Athletics Championships in Lyon, France, August 4-16.  Many US Champions can and do become World Champions, so Jacksonville is a critical step in training and competition.

Events at Hodges Stadium will be daily:

• Thursday 8:00 AM to 9:30 PM
• Friday 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Saturday 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM
• Sunday 7:00 AM-3:30 PM

For a detailed schedule, see
http://www.usatf.org/usatf/files/a5/a5f9af64-84ca-4e50-8fba-bc553f8b2d31.pdf

For a list alphabetically by athlete with city, state, gender, age, clubs, and events, see
http://www.weinerpublic.com/20150723.xls

Athletes score in five-year age categories.  The media is invited for coverage and interviews, and the public is invited to watch the meet onsite at no cost.

JACKSONVILLE  2015 NOTABLES
(Notes below by Pete Taylor, Meet Announcer and member, National Masters Media Committee, AND Charts at end by Mary Trotto, Chair, USATF Masters Awards Committee) – SEE BELOW or release long version at

www.weinerpublic.com/masters

ATTENTION MEDIA –VIDEOS FOR B-ROLL (masters athletes performing and Background shots):

1. "Forever Fast", by USATF Masters Track and Field:
   http://www.usatf.org/News/FOREVER-FAST,-USA-Masters-Promotional-Film,-Premie.aspx?feed=news
2. Outdoor MTF Championship Video Co-project of Midwest Region and USATF National Masters Media Committee:
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbzhJH8z8kE

U.S.MASTERS CONTINUES DRUG TESTING.  USATF Masters Track & Field Committee continues the drug testing program. Testing will be conducted by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

MEDIA NOTES: For more information and media trackside athlete interviews, contact Bob Weiner, USATF National Masters Media Chair, at cells 202-306-1200 or 202-329-1700 or [email protected]  . Press may email for advance credentialing or see Bob trackside and show media organization credentials. All media are welcome.

JACKSONVILLE MASTERS TRACK & FIELD STARS WILL SHINE 2015

By Peter Taylor, Meet Announcer; member, National Masters Media Committee

The Masters Outdoor National Championships in Jacksonville FL are shaping up to be a terrific event, with numerous stars in the sprints, hurdles, throws, and jumps as well as some high-level performers in the longer distances and race walk.  For many athletes, Jacksonville will serve as their last big competition before going to the world masters in Lyon, France, next month, while for others this will be their last major meet until the 2016 indoor season.

Part I: 12 Stars Competing in Jacksonville (July 2015) Who Are Also Entered in Lyon Worlds (August 2015) and Have a Good Shot at Being Crowned "World Champion" There

Bob Lida, Wichita, Kansas: Selected as world male masters track and field athlete of the year for 2012, Bob, who is now 78, can be described as the "world's fastest man" aged 75 or over. He has the world record for M75 (75-79) in the 100 at an amazing 13.49 seconds and holds the world 200 record for that age group as well at a scintillating 27.73. Bob will run the 100, 200, and 400 in Jacksonville.

Kathy Bergen, La Canada, California: In April, Kathy ran the 100-meter dash in 15.31 seconds. How good is that for a 75-year-old? The answer: It's 0.51 seconds faster than the current W75 world record of 15.82. In the W70 group, Kathy has the world marks in both the 100 and 200 at an outrageous 14.76 and 31.39, respectively, the latter at age 72. She recently ran 34.32 in the 200, which betters legendary Hall of Famer Irene Obera's W75 American mark of 34.82. Indoors, Kathy has a pair of astounding W70 world marks in the sprints: 9.21 in the 60 and an electrifying 31.86 in the 200.

Unbeknownst to some of her sprint fans, Kathy is also a standout in the high jump.  She is, in fact, the world outdoor record holder for W70 at 1.30 meters (4-3 1/4) and recently bettered the world outdoor mark in W75 by clearing 1.22 meters (4-0).

Brandi Bernert, Denver, Colorado: This ex-Colorado State University hotshot, now 36 years old, hasn't gotten a whole lot slower since college. In the 2013 outdoor worlds in Brazil, Brandi threw down a 12.33 in the 100 and a 25.35 in the 200, both good for a gold medal. Currently, she is the American indoor record holder in the 60 dash for the 35-39 category at a stunning 7.75 seconds, which she achieved in winning the title at the 2014 world indoor masters.  Amazingly, this time is just 0.40 seconds slower than the 7.35 she ran as a Colorado State standout. Look for Brandi in the 100 and 200 in Jacksonville as well as in the shot put and javelin. Note to editors: Brandi was 35 at 2014 outdoor nationals; I assume she is 36 now (could not find verification).

Linda Cohn, Northridge, California: At 62, Linda competes in a variety of events, but not at the expense of quality. At Jacksonville she will do eight events: 100 dash, long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, hammer, weight throw, and javelin. The javelin is her specialty, as she has the American record in the 55-59 group for the 500-gram implement (40.23 meters, 132 feet, 0 inches) and for the 60-64 division at both 400 grams (39.16, 128-5) and 500 grams (37.50, 123-0). This last mark is also a world record.

Carol Finsrud, Lockhart, Texas: Carol, who is 58, competed in the US Olympic Trials as recently as 2000, and she remains a formidable thrower. Her performances in the discus have been remarkable, as she owns, almost unbelievably, the official outdoor American marks in that event for five consecutive age groups: W35, W40, W45, W50, and W55, although there is a superior unratified mark in W35. Carol's W40 record in the discus is a truly spectacular 52.44 meters (172 feet). Outdoors, Carol also has the W55 American marks in the weight throw and super weight.

In Jacksonville, Carol, a member of the Masters Hall of Fame, will be competing in the shot put, discus, hammer, weight throw, and javelin. 

Jeanne Daprano, Fayetteville, Georgia: In 2007, Jeanne, who is now 78, became the first 70+ woman anywhere in the world to break 7 minutes in the mile, shattering the old mark by running 6:47.91, a record that is still on the books. Currently, Jeanne also holds the world indoor mark for 75-79 in the mile (7:13.51), and outdoors she has the world marks for this age group in the 800 (3:07.35) and the mile, the latter a remarkable 6:58.44. To no one's surprise, this Masters Hall of Famer won both the 800 and 1500 at the 2013 outdoor worlds. In Jacksonville, Jeanne will compete in the 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1500.

Damon Blakemore, Houston, Texas: A very youthful 53, Damon took fourth at 2013 worlds in the 200 in 24.30, but he showed his true colors in that meet by throttling the 100-meter hurdle field in a very spicy 14.58. Damon, who holds the American indoor record for M50 in the pentathlon, will compete in the 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, and long jump in Jacksonville.

Thaddeus Wilson, Oxnard, California: Thad, at 64, is still a lightning-fast hurdler and excellent sprinter who had a wonderful series of performances in the 2011 outdoor worlds in Sacramento. There he was first in the 100 hurdles in 14.78, first in the 300 hurdles (45.42), and second to Oscar Peyton in the 100 (12.59). Earlier in 2011 he had established a still-standing world mark in the 100 hurdles, an amazing 14.37. At Jacksonville, Thad will compete in the 100, 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, and long jump.

Antwon Dussett, Peoria, Illinois: Even though he's 39 and thus will be at the top of his age group in both Jacksonville and Lyon, Antwon will get tremendous respect from his fellow sprinters at these championships. At the 2011 outdoor worlds, he ran the 400 in an absurdly fast 47.34 seconds, and at 38 he won the 2013 outdoor worlds in 47.37. This time was just 1.37 seconds slower than the provisional (B standard) qualifying time for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. His winning time in the 200 at 2011 worlds? A stunning 21.57 seconds.

In Jacksonville, Antwon will run the 200 and 400.

Derek Pye, Long Beach, California: A splendid hurdler and sprinter out of Long Beach State, Derek owns the American indoor record for M40 in the 60 hurdles at 8.09 seconds. At the 2011 outdoor worlds he won a silver medal in the 110 hurdles in 14.68 seconds, and in 2014 he took down gold at the world indoors in the 60 hurdles, but recently he has showcased his sprinting talent as well. For example, in 2014 he earned gold at national indoors in the 60 (7.22) and national outdoors in the 100 (11.54), then came back in 2015 to win the 60 at indoor nationals in 7.26. Look for Derek, who is now 47, in the 100, 110 hurdles, and long jump in Jacksonville.

Rita Hanscom, San Diego, California: Rita, at 61 the holder of numerous age-group records in the combined events, was selected as the world female masters track and field athlete of the year for 2009.  At the outdoor worlds in Finland that year she set the still-standing W55 world mark in the heptathlon (seven events), and in late June of the present year she established a world W60 mark in that event (she set the American W50 mark for the heptathlon at the 2007 worlds in Italy). Moreover, she has the American outdoor records in both W50 and W55 for the decathlon (10 events).

Complementing her brilliance in the combined events, Rita is known as a wonderful sprinter with near-perfect form. At Jacksonville, this member of the USATF Masters Hall of Fame will compete in the 100 dash, 80 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump, pole vault, and long jump.

Bruce McBarnette, Ashburn, Virginia: Now 57, Bruce is one of the greatest masters high jumpers ever and a member of the USATF Masters Hall of Fame. In 2013, he set a world indoor mark in the 55-59 group at U.S. nationals of 1.88 meters, or 6 feet, 2 inches. Outdoors, McBarnette won gold at the 2013 world outdoors by leaping 1.77 meters and then came back in 2014 to win the world indoor high jump in Budapest. Bruce has the American outdoor records for three consecutive age groups 45-49 (2.00 meters, or 6 feet, 6 3/4 inches), 50-54 (1.94 meters, or 6 feet, 4 1/4 inches), and M55 (1.84 meters, or 6 feet, 1/2 inch). At Jacksonville he will be competing in the high jump and triple jump.

Part II: A Few of the Many Outstanding Male Competitors in Jacksonville Nationals Who Are Not Competing at Lyon Worlds

Ian Whatley, Reno, Nevada: Out of Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, Whatley, who is 56, has competed in four U.S. Olympic Trials and has walked for four US international teams. Look for him to prevail rather easily in Jacksonville in both the track (5000 meters) and road (10,000 meters) race walks, perhaps setting a record in the process.

Oscar Peyton, Accokeek, Maryland: The 6-4 Peyton, now 62, won both the 100 and 200 at the world outdoor masters championships in 2011. In 2013 he established two marks for the M60 group, an amazing 7.52 seconds in the 60 indoors to set a world standard, and an American record outdoors of 24.32 seconds in the 200. In June at Raleigh, Oscar broke the latter mark by scorching a 24.14. Mr. Peyton will compete in his signature events, the 100 and 200, in Jacksonville.

Bill Collins, Houston, Texas: A star at Texas Christian University and later an open standout who was part of the world record team that ran 38.03 for the 4 x 100 in Dusseldorf, Germany, Collins is arguably the greatest male sprinter in US masters history. Outdoors he holds the American records in the 100 for M55 (11.44) and M60 (11.83) and in the 200 for M55 (23.36), with all but the 11.83 also a world mark.

Indoors, Bill's achievements are also remarkable. He holds the world standard for the 60 in the M55 group (7.34) and for the 200 in M45 (22.57), M50 (22.99), M55 (23.36), and M60 (24.32). Amazing.

At Jacksonville, Bill (now 64 years old), who was male masters track and field athlete of the year in the world for 2006, will compete in all three sprints, the 100, 200, and 400.

Charles Allie, Pittsburgh, PA: Charles, a youthful 67, won a very special honor in 2013, as World Masters Athletics named him the top male masters track and field performer in the world. In that year, Mr. Allie won the M65 200 dash at the outdoor worlds in Brazil in a stunning 25.00 seconds, but in Ohio that year he set a world mark in the 200 at an unthinkable 24.65. Also at 2013 worlds, Charles won the 100 in a sizzling 12.55 seconds and the 400 in a brilliant 56.60. Indoors in 2013, Charles set an M65 world standard of 25.41 seconds in the 200, and outdoors he set a world mark of 56.09 in the 400.

More recently, at 2015 indoor nationals, Charles won the 400 in 60.47. A member of the USATF Masters Hall of Fame, he will compete in the 100, 200, and 400 in Jacksonville.

Ty Brown, Washington, DC: In 2013, at the age of 68, Ty roared through the 100-meter hurdles outdoors in 15.20 seconds to set a world mark that still stands. After turning 70, Ty took down another world mark at 2015 indoor nationals, crushing the existing 70-74 record in the 60 hurdles of 9.76 by roaring to an unfathomable 9.44. Still hungry for new marks, last month in Raleigh, NC, Ty simply obliterated the world M70 outdoor record of 12.96 in the 80 hurdles by scorching a 12.69. At Jacksonville, Ty will compete in the 80 hurdles, 100, and 200.

Robert Hewitt, Gresham, Oregon: Selection as the USATF male masters athlete of the year for 2014 was a fitting honor for Hewitt, now 82 years old, who rather quietly but persistently has amassed an impressive resume. Outdoors he has the world decathlon records in both the M75 and M80 classes, and he is the American outdoor record holder in the triple jump for M80 at 8.34 meters (27 feet, 4 1/2 inches). Indoors, Bob has the world marks in the pentathlon for both M75 and M80, and he has the M80 world record in the long jump at 4.09 meters (13 feet, 5 inches).

At Jacksonville, look for Bob to wreak havoc in the 80 hurdles, 200 hurdles, long jump, and triple jump.

Part III: A Few of the Many Outstanding Women Entered in Jacksonville 2015 Who Are Not Competing at Lyon Worlds

Dena Birade, Bellingham, Washington: A former member of the Canadian national team (open), Dena has acquitted herself extremely well in US competition. At 2011 worlds in Sacramento she stormed to victory in the W35 100 (12.36) and took second in the 200 (25.51), even though she was 39 at the time and thus at the top of the age group. At Jacksonville, Dena, who is now 43, will compete in her two specialties, the 100 and 200, and will be very hard to handle.

Sonja Friend-Uhl, Brentwood, Tennessee: A standout at the College of William and Mary and a participant in the 2000 Olympic Trials, Sonja has turned out to be an outstanding masters performer. In 2011 she won both the 800 and 1500 at the outdoor world championships in Sacramento, and she is currently the world indoor record holder in the mile for women aged 40-44 at 4:44.81. Sonja recently set an American outdoor record in the mile for the 40-44 group, running 4:45.68 to eclipse the mark of 4:46.29 set in 2006 by the legendary Alisa Harvey.

Having won the invitational masters 3000 at the open nationals in Eugene on the last weekend in June, the 43-year-old Sonja should be ready for her assignment at Jacksonville: the 800, 1500, and 5000. Last year at nationals she won all three of these events and secured a second in the 400 as well.

Anne Sluder, Pineville, North Carolina: Anne is a superb all-around athlete, as evidenced by her record-breaking performance in March at indoor masters nationals. There, she shredded the existing W40 American record in the pentathlon by scoring 3531 points (old record was 3241). In June, at the Southeastern Masters meet in Raleigh, NC, Anne showed her mettle once again, as she soared 1.61 meters (5 feet, 3 1/4 inches) in the high jump and 5.35 meters (17-6 1/2) in the long jump on her way to an American record in the outdoor pentathlon. The old record? 3529 points, held jointly by Anne and Caryl Senn. The new mark? 3727.

In Jacksonville, Anne, who is now 42, will compete in the pentathlon as well as the 80 hurdles, 400 hurdles, high jump, and long jump. Look for her to better her new pentathlon mark, as she was dissatisfied at Raleigh with her hurdle time (the first event of the pentathlon).

Marisa Sutera Strange, Pleasant Valley, New York: An All-American in the 400 hurdles at Ithaca College and twice a participant in an exhibition steeplechase at the Olympic Trials (1992 and 1996), Marisa has had an impressive career as a masters runner. During this past winter she broke the American W50 indoor record for 3000 meters by almost 10 seconds, a mark held by none other than Olympic champion Joan Benoit Samuelson. Strange ran 10:12.98 (5 minutes, 28.8 seconds per mile) over 15 laps at the Armory Track Center in New York. At Jacksonville, Marisa, a very youthful 52, will contest the 1500 and 5000.

Myrle Mensey, St. Louis, Missouri: Now 66, Myrle was the USATF female masters track and field athlete of the year in 2013. Looking at just the W65 division, Myrle has the American marks in the hammer (39.61 meters, 129-11), weight throw (16.81, 55-2), super weight (11.69, 38-4), and throws pentathlon. Indoors perhaps her most compelling record is the W65 world indoor mark in the weight throw at 16.91 meters (55-5). Myrle set that one in Budapest, Hungary, in the 2014 world indoor masters, as she topped a field of 14. The silver medalist, Inge Faldager of Denmark, finished almost 6 feet behind at 15.11 meters (49-6 3/4).

In Jacksonville, Myrle will compete in the shot put, discus, hammer, weight throw, and javelin.

Part IV: Two Olympians

Chaunte Lowe, Loganville, Georgia: Jacksonville nationals will be honored by the presence of Chaunte Lowe, the American open record holder in the high jump both outdoors and indoors, who represented the U.S. in the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympic Games. The Georgia Tech alum is now 31 years old and will confine her athletic activities at Jacksonville to the high jump. Her open marks? An amazing 2.02 meters (6-7 1/2) indoors and 2.05 meters (6-8 3/4) outdoors. This must surely be the first time that a current open record holder in the jumps has competed at USATF Masters Nationals.

Howard Lindsay, New York, New York: will compete in the 100 hurdles and long jump at Jacksonville in the M50 division. Howard, now 51, was inducted into the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hall of Fame in 2004, but he has far greater honors in his past. Competing for Antigua and Barbuta, he ran the 4 x 400 in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles; the 200 dash, 4 x 100, and 4 x 400 in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul; and the 4 x 400 in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Part V: A Star from the Professional Sports World

Henry Ellard, Metairie, Louisiana (age 54): During a marvelous career in the National Football League, Henry caught a total of 814 passes during the regular season while playing for the Los Angeles Rams, Washington Redskins, and New England Patriots. An outstanding performer in the triple jump in his younger days, Ellard made the decision to try masters nationals last year (in Winston-Salem, NC) and won the triple jump with an excellent distance of 13.01 meters (42 feet, 8 inches). He also took third in the long jump (5.73 meters, or 18-9 1/2). This year he is branching out, as he has entered the 400 meters and high jump as well as the long and triple jumps. Will he retain enough of his wide-receiver speed to medal in the 400?

Part VI: A Notable from the World of Entertainment

Damien Leake, Van Nuys, California: Leake is 62 and has been a TV and movie actor for many years, having appeared in Serpico, Apocalypse Now, and numerous other films. In both the 2014 and 2015 indoor nationals he defeated the vaunted Oscar Peyton in the 60, prevailing in a dazzling 7.60 seconds to Oscar's 7.63 in 2014 and 7.71 to 7.83 in 2015. At 2014 outdoor nationals, Peyton turned the tables, but just barely, winning the 100 in 12.08 seconds to Leake's 12.12. Watching stars Damien Leake, Oscar Peyton, and Bill Collins go head to head at Hodges Stadium will be exciting indeed, and admission is free.

Part VII: Competitors from Northern Florida (including the Florida Panhandle)

Blair DeSio, Panama City (age 44): The tall, long-striding DeSio has emerged as an outstanding competitor at 400 meters. In fact, last year he ran on the world-record 4 x 400 team (for M35-39) at outdoor nationals that achieved a remarkable time of 3:19.45, all the more amazing because three of the four runners were in their 40s. Earlier in the meet, in the individual 400, Blair ran 51.75 at age 43.

At Jacksonville, DeSio will try an unusual triple, the 200, 400, and 800.

Buzz Porter, Ormond Beach (age 79): The youthful-looking Porter first tried the pole vault at age 76, but why not? After all, Buzz likes to do a lot of events. At the recent Southeastern Masters in Raleigh he was one of eight men to score more than 1800 points in the pentathlon, and he'll be "loaded for bear" in Jacksonville. Buzz will try the 80 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 2000 steeplechase, high jump, pole vault, long jump, shot put, triple jump, and pentathlon in the big meet.

Thomas Sputo, Gainesville (age 55): A professor of structural engineering at the University of Florida as well as the co-leader of a Gainesville-based business enterprise in that field, Tom Sputo enjoys lifting and throwing at the end of the day. Last year he finished sixth in the hammer and fifth in the weight throw (M50-54) at outdoor nationals, but he should greatly benefit from moving into the M55 age group this year and may medal in one or both of these two events.

Part VIII: Athletes with True Longevity 90+

Does participation in track and field promote longevity? One would hope so. Regardless, this meet has several athletes who have stretched the "life tape."

Champion Goldy, Haddonfield, New Jersey (age 98): Rev. Goldy thrilled the crowd at this year's Penn Relays by running the 100 meters in 33.09 seconds, and he hopes for better in Jacksonville. In addition to his sprinting, "the Champ" is an excellent thrower, with the discus his forte. Last year at nationals he hurled the discus 14.18 meters (47 feet, 1/4 inch), and this year he could actually improve on that. In addition to the 100 and discus, Champ Goldy will be participating in the shot put, javelin, and weight throw in Jacksonville.

George Roudebush, Chardon, Ohio: Mr. Roudebush, now 90 years young, will get his money's worth at Jacksonville, as he has signed up for 11 events. On the track he is entered in the 100, 400, 80 hurdles, and 2000 steeplechase, while in the field he is listed in the high jump, long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, hammer throw, and weight throw. Mr. Roudebush is one of a small number of World War II veterans still competing in US masters track and field. As an infantryman in WW II he served under General George S. Patton.

Dixon Hemphill, Fairfax Station, Virginia: Mr. Hemphill, who is also 90, has entered his own version of a "runner's pentathlon," as he is signed up for the 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1500 in Jacksonville. Dixon will also give the throws a whirl, as he will compete in both the discus and javelin.

USATF MASTERS ATHLETES OF THE YEAR ENTERED IN JACKSONVILLE
and Athletes Entered Defending National Titles

By Mary Trotto, Chair, USATF Masters Awards Committee

Media Contacts: Bob Weiner, USA Track & Field National Masters Media Chair 301-283-0821, Cells 202-306-1200 or 202-329-1700

SOURCE Robert Weiner Associates and USATF Masters Media Committee