LOUISVILLE — It was a full day of excitement at the Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Complex as day two of the USATF Masters Indoor Championships saw American and world records fall.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver and Super Bowl LIV Champion Tyreek Hill (Unattached) made his return to the track at the USATF Masters Indoor Championships. Hill represented Team USATF at the IAAF Junior Championships in 2012, bringing home two medals – a 4x100m gold and a 200m bronze. A 6.70 in the 25-29 of the men’s 60m won handily, with Dainen Brass’ (Pony Express Track & Field Club) 7.27 in second, respectively.
Damien Leake (SC Striders Track Club) bettered the American record and world record in the 70-74 division with his 7.89 clocking in the 60m final. His time makes him the first American in his division to dip under 8 seconds with the previous record set at 8.11 in 2016. The nearest competitor was Oscar Peyton (Potomac Valley Track Club), scaring the previous American record with his 8.15 silver.
Another world record went down on day two with Oneithea Lewis’ (Shore Athletics Club) 16.90m heave in the women’s 60-64 weight throw. The existing world record of 16.70m was set by Inge Faldager of Denmark in 2008, with a previous American record of 16.64m set by Myrle Mensey in 2009. She also set a record in the super weight with her 11.53m launch to better Merle Mensey’s 11.42m record.
The TNT International Racing Club established a new world and American record in the women’s 75 4x800m relay. 80-year-old Angela Stabb took the lead and handed off to Mary Trotto (75). Trotto made her way around four laps before handing the baton to Nancy Berger (78). The team was capped off by Cora Hill (79) as she crossed the line in 22:43.88.
A non-club quartet toed the line for a fierce men’s 80 4x800m relay, knowing a world and American record could be in their grasp. The existing record of 17:52.69 was no match for the group, led by Hal Lieberman (80), who handed off to Gary Muhrcke (82), then to Inocencio Cantu (89) who left it all in Stan Edelson’s (16:34.30) hands as the anchor. The team clocked a 16:34.30 to blow away the world and American records with ease.
Kathryn Martin (Unattached), who set the world record in the 65-69 division before moving up to the 70-74, won the 70-74 women’s 1500m in 5:54.19 to better the previous age group American record of 5:57.19 set by Sabra Harvey in 2019. Martin bested her field by nearly two minutes to take the win by a longshot. Olympian Michelle Rohl (Greater Philadelphia TC) snagged an American record in the 55-59 division of the 1500m, speeding through the finish in 4:55.47. Rohl was a full 20 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor and chopped three seconds off of the existing record.
In the men’s 75-79 division of the men’s 1500m, Gary Patton (So Cal Track Club) bettered a 32-year-old American record with his 5:44.41. The 77-year-old’s time was more than 15 seconds faster than the 1991 clocking.
Roger Vergin (Unattached) sped to a 60m hurdles American record in the men’s 85-89 division with his 13.98 clocking. His time bettered Robert Paulen’s year-old record of 14.33.
Kay Glynn (Unattached) won the women’s 70-74 pole vault with an American record clearance of 2.60m. Her clearance was the only in her section above 2m, bettering Flo Meiler’s existing record of 2.11m from 2007 handily.
An American record fell in the women’s 65 4x200m as the SC Striders Track Club sent out their ‘A’ team. Kathy Bergen (83), Tina Bowman (69), Pat Kelly (72), and Rita Hanscom (68) bettered the existing American record of 2:54.84 with their speedy 2:39.58.
After two days of competition, So Cal Track Club is leading in the point standings with 381.5 points. Potomac Valley Track Club sits in second with 344 points and Atlanta Track Club is in third with 234.
*All records pending verification.
Competition resumes on the track for day three on Sunday, March 12 at 8:00 a.m. ET with the 200m prelims. Field action begins at 8:00 a.m. with the shot put, weight throw, and triple jump.
Fans can watch the competition live on USATF.TV+ starting at 8:00 a.m. ET and follow live results here.
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