Jenny Hitchings Lowers the American 5K Record Twice within Six Weeks!

Although Jenny Hitchings of Sacramento, CA is known mostly for her Marathon prowess, she owns American Records from the 5 Km to the Marathon in both the 55-59 and now, the 60-64 age divisions. The 60-64 AR in the 5K is not soft by any means; it belonged to a legendary Masters Hal of Famer, Kathryn Martin, who held multiple track and road records in that age division a dozen years ago. Hitchings was the USATF Masters LDR Athlete of the Year in 2023, Martin won the same award twenty years earlier.

The Impala Stampede 5K on June 7th, located in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, was not far from Sacramento. The course is record-eligible; with 30 meters or so of elevation gain, it is not flat. But Hitchings figured the record was within her wheelhouse. She was right! Hitchings beat the record with two seconds to spare. Her 19:02 became the new American Record, pending ratification.

Six weeks later, Hitchings found another 5K opportunity with the Patagonia 5K, conducted over the same course as the Impala Stampede. Highly familiar with the course now, Hitchings found a few seconds here, a few seconds there. The Patagonia Lake 5K results show that Hitchings covered the course in 18:44.0. That is 18 seconds faster than the provisional AR she set in early June. This, too, is pending ratification. Two AR’s in two months, not bad! Once ratified, Hitchings will own the 5K AR’s for both 55-59 and 60-64.

Running an 18:44 5K at age 62,gives Hitchings an Age Grading Performance Level Percentage PLP of 99.90%.

Submitted by Paul Carlin

Consultant to USATF Masters LDR
www.runningprof.com