Posted: December 20, 2005

Athletics: Godale, McIntosh Win World 100K Masters Titles

Team USA Sweeps the Medals

BARILOCHE, Argentina - (December 11, 2005) - On a hilly course on a hot day at the foothills of the Andes, American Mark Godale, 35, won the 2005 World Masters Athletics 100K world title. Over the 62 mile course, the Ohioan finished over 9 minutes ahead of silver medalist José Antonio Morales.

The American women's team of Amanda McIntosh (40), Tania Pacev (46) and Dee Dee Grafius (56) swept the gold, silver and bronze medals. The eight-member powerhouse team earned a total of nine medals, two more than the second place Argentinean team and three times the number of medals awarded to third place Uruguay. The impressive national masters team also set four age-group course records.

The team was the largest that the United States has sent to a masters world ultra championship and the four returning veteran team members showed their experience against teams from Canada, Columbia, Spain, Uruguay and host country Argentina.

The four men and four women 100K masters team represented a mix of states and two decades of age groups. The WMA 100K Championship is an opportunity for American ultrarunners age 35 and over to compete at a world championship exclusively for masters runners.

USATF provides partial funding for the WMA 100K team and team members are self-funded. Contributions to the team are welcome (and tax-exempt) thru International Masters Athletics Foundation. To contribute to the 2005 USATF WMA 100K Team, contact Katy Cotton at IMAF, Inc. at imaf_inc@yahoo.com. For information about IMAF, go to: www.cerritos.edu/lgersitz/IMAF/Home.htm

2005 WMA 100K Championship Results for Team USA - Bariloche, Argentina, Sunday, December 11, 2005

MEN
Mark Godale, 35, OH, 8:28:10*
Roy Pirrung, 57, WI, 9:09:07*
Chris Frost, 54, CA, 11:57:14
Craig Robertson, 46, TX, 13:56:45

WOMEN
Amanda McIntosh, 40, TX, 9:22:49
Tania Pacev, 46, CO, 10:00:08*
Dee Dee Grafius, 56, CA, 11:25:56
Katy Cotton, 39, WY, 13:06:18*
*Age Groups Course Records

For complete race results, go to: www.mundial100k-wma.com.ar

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.