2/26/22 ATLANTA GA—Before the day dawned the Masters athletes were picking up their bibs, doing their pre-race stretching and warm-up routines. Some were blowing on their hands to stay warm in the 37-degree temperatures. Luckily the Atlanta Track Club had a large tent set up for the Masters Championship athletes. Once the sun was up, it was a beautiful day for a 5 km race in Atlanta! The series of hills over the last part of the course were a challenge for all, but Betty Lindberg Atlanta, GA, age 97, overcame that challenge. The Atlanta Track Club reported that her time broke the existing Women’s 95-99 World Record of 1:28:36, set in 2017. Her 55:47 net time shattered the record by over 30 minutes!
Both races for the overall Championship were thrilling! Heading up the final hill on Marietta Street, with 300 meters to go, Jesse Davis Indianapolis IN, Bryan Lindsay Zionsville IN, Chris Naimoli Philadelphia PA, and Jacques Sallberg Pasadena CA were in contention. As soon as Lindsay, a BYU alum who finished 2nd in the 2005 NCAA Outdoor 1500 meters in 3:38.31, turned on the burners, he was gone. Davis, last December’s Club Cross Country Champion, and an accomplished Marathoner, tried to go with him, but the timing and the speed of Lindsay ruled this race. Lindsay took the win in 15:37, with Davis holding off Naimoli for 2nd in 15:48 and 15:50 respectively. Sallberg took 4th in 15:58. Another Midwesterner, Jessica Hruska Dubuque IA, pulled away from Jill Braley Atlanta GA to take first in the Women’s race, 18:12 to 18:18. Michelle Rohl Mansfield PA, 56, amazed everyone by sprinting away from the field to take 3rd in 18:30. Abby Dean Wilmington DE claimed 4th in 18:41.
Age-grading, based on net/chip time, provides a measure of who had the best performance, adjusting for age, with 100% being equivalent to a World’s Best performance for that athlete’s age and sex. Betty Lindberg Atlanta GA, the oldest competitor at 97, ran the course in 55:47 net, for the top age grade of 95.56%. Rohl finished 2nd; her net 18:29 earned a 95.42%. Jeannie Rice Concord Township OH, and 2019 Masters Athlete of the Year, covered the 5 km, at age 73, in 23:55 for 91.90%. Lisa Veneziano’s Fenton MI 19:29 net at age 57 left her just off the podium at 91.58%. Jacob Nur Elk Grove CA, 66, clocked 17:43 for a 94.49%. Ken Youngers Tucker GA, 65, who ran 18:22 for 90.32%, edged Christian Cushing-Murray Orange CA, 54, for 2nd place. Cushing-Murray posted a nifty 16:43 for 90.26%. Sallberg’s 4th place in age-grading matched his 4th place overall from a net 15:57 for 89.46%.
Age Division National Champions included M/W: 40-44 Lindsay/Hruska; 45-49 Sallberg/Sara Girotto 19:05; 50-54 Cushing-Murray/Dean; 55-59 David Matherne 17:22/Rohl; 60-64 Rick Lee 17:58/Lorraine Jasper 20:32; 65-69 Nur/Kitty Musante 22:20; 70-74 Richard Larsen 19:37/Rice; 75-79 Gary Patton 22:23/Myrna Barnett 35:12;80-84 David Turner 29:11/Joyce Hodges-Hite 50:05; 85-89 Steven Fuchs 45:31/Edna Hyer 41:23; 95-99 Lindberg.
The Indiana Elite AC made it two for two as they repeated their 40 and up victory at the Club Cross Country Championships last December. This win was dominant as their 3-athlete total time of 47:29 represented a winning margin of over three minutes. The Atlanta Track Club won several Championships including the Women’s 40 and up competition in 59:17, with a victory margin of 2:47; Men’s 50+ in 52:33 with a victory margin of less than half a minute; Men’s 60+ in 57:23, with a minute to spare; and Women’s 70+ unopposed in 1:32:43. The Greater Philadelphia Track Club took the Women’s 50+ in 59:42, with a victory margin of 1:21; and Women’s 60+ in 1:04:08 with a 2-minute victory edge.
Submitted by
Paul Carlin
Masters LDR/Media Coordinator
Running Professor, LLC/www.runningprof.com
All photos courtesy of Pam Fales
