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ORONO, MAINE - A number of fast finals in the 800 meter run along with a
world record performance by Gary Hunter in the pole vault summarized the
third day of competition of the USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field
Championships here Saturday on the campus of the University of Maine.
More than 1,100 athletes ages 30 to 95+ are in Orono competing in the
national championships. The USA Masters Championships continue through
Sunday.
Hunter (Fort Wayne, Ind.) cleared 4.75 meters/15 feet 07 inches to win
the M50 pole vault national championship and set the world mark. He won
the competition by nearly three feet ahead of William Murray
(Birmingham, Ala.), who cleared 3.85m/12-07.50.
Upon conclusion of the 800m in the W70 division, Jeanne Daprano believed
she had set a world record of her own with a winning time of 3:04.26.
Unfortunately, she was misinformed and the world record still stands at
2:59. Her time is a new American record, however.
But it didn't change the performance in Daprano's eyes.
"It's really rewarding," she said. "After competing in track and field
for 30 years to still be able to perform at this level is great. That's
why we are here."
Daprano now has her sights set on achieving the world record and will
make an attempt at it at the World Championships.
"I have three more weeks to train and I am going to target the 800 at
the world championships," said Daprano, who set the world record in the
400m dash of 1:18.64 just weeks ago and also owns the world record in
the mile (6:47.75). "I don't follow (the records) all that closely. Most
of the time I don't really know what they are. All I care is that I have
my name in the book of life."
When the men took the track in the 800m finals the crowd was able to
view a number of quick performances.
"They've arrived," said Saladin Allah (Piscataway, N.J.) of the depth of
numerous age groups in the 800m run. "There is no doubt it has been that
way for awhile. From 40 up to 65 it's really tough."
Allah successfully defended his 800m national championship by running
1:59.51 to win the M45 age group. Kevin Forde (Philadelphia, Penn.) won
the M40 division in 1:59.17, Mark Wensel (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) won the
M35 in 2:00.08 and Frank Condon (Chico, Calif.) set an American Record
in the M65 division in 2:17.20.
Allah, the current 800m world record holder of 1:54.18, said the USA
Masters Outdoor Championships were his world championships for the year
as he is now finished competing for the season. He quickly deemed them a
success after also defending his other national title in winning the
400m dash Friday.
Alisa Harvey (Manassas, Va.) proved the women's competition in the 800m
can be just as fast as the 11-time NCAA All-American from Tennessee won
the W40 division in 2:08.81.
Mark Stickley (Winchester, Va.) took advantage of overcast morning skies
and the lowest temperatures of the week to win the M45 10,000m run and
was the overall winner in a time of 33:11.65. He finished ahead of Brian
Pope, who claimed the M40 division in a time of 33:12:41.
Competition continues Sunday at 7:30 a.m. starting with conclusion of
the 200m dash prelims. For more information on the 2007 USA Masters
Outdoor Track and Field Championships, including live scoring and
webcast, visit USATF.org.
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