World Records Falling in Decatur Illinois

[PVJunkie]

http://www.usatf.org/news/view.asp?DUID=USATF_2004_08_05_16_20_48


DECATUR - Two world records fell in the men's pole vault to open the first day of competition at the USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Millikin University's Frank M. Lindsey Field in Decatur, Illinois.

Bud Held of Del Mar, Calif., cleared 2.96 meters/9 feet, 8.50 inches to set a M75 record in the pole vault. The 76-year-old Held bettered the 2.95m/8.00 set in 1997 by 75-year-old at the time, William Bell of Jonesboro, Ark. The 82-year-old Bell maintained his name in the masters pole vault record book with his clearance of 2.60m/8-6.25 to better the world M80 pole vault record of 2.51m/8-2.75 set in 1992 by American Carol Johnston. Robert Hewitt cleared 2.75m/9-0.25 to win the M70 age group.

Roger Kroodsma of Thorn Hill, Tenn., won the M60 pentathlon with 4,021 points. The 60-year-old won the long jump (5.03m/16-6), javelin throw (40.87m/134-1), discus throw (38.56m/126-6) and the 1,500m (5:31.44). Other pentathlon winners were Leslie Young (M30-2,961), Marek Wensel (M35-3,228), Scott Williams (M40-3,075), Ken Ellis (M45-3,498), Bill Murray (M50-3,557), Darryl Decker and Robert Baker tied (M55-3,193), Emil Pawlik (M65-3,714), M70-Bill Jankovich (M70-3,419), Denver Smith (M75-3,123), Bill Carter (M80-3,234) and Daniel Bulkley (M85-2,791).

Flo Meiler scored the most points by any woman in today's pentathlon. The 70-year-old had a total of 3,996 to win the W70 age group. Other winners were Regina Richardson (W35-2,565), Joanne Petkus (W45-2,143), Kay Glynn (W50-3,567), Dorothy Jean Vander Cruys (W55-2,692), Ann Carter (W60-1,886) and Barbara Jordan (W65-3,611).

In what turned out to be a highly contested match in the women's W65 shot put, Cherri Sherrard of Vallejo, Calif., tossed 9.64m/31-7.50 to edge runner-up JoAnn Grissom of Indianapolis, Ind., who threw 9.41m/30-10.25. Other shot put winners include Marianne Neuber (W60-8.88m/29-1.75), Gloria Bortell (W70-7.23m/23-8.75), Bernice Holland (W75-6.38m/20-11.25) and Olga Kotelko (W85-4.09m/13-5).

The men's shot put winners were Bob Ward (M70-13.40m/43-11.75), Jim Gerhardt (M75-11.43m/37-6), William Nettles (M80-9.06m/29-8.75), David Schlothauer (M85-7.11m/23-4) and Leland McPhie (M90-6.32m/20-9).

Brian Pope of Oxford, Miss., ran 15:26.90 to clock the fastest time out of all the age groups in the men's 5,000m. The 41-year-old Pope held off M40 runner-up David Olshan (15:47.53) and third-place finisher Paul Risch (15:51.69). The other men's 5,000m winners were Michael Resterhouse (M30-18:11.53), Robert VanCleve (M35-16:43.98), Eric Putnam (M46-16:02.37), Charlie Gray (M50-16:37.96), Nolan Shaheed (M55-16:35.60), Rick Stetson (M60-18:09.34), Thom Weddle (M65-20:02.16), Bill Iffrig (M70-22:01.55), Luis Torres Rosa (M75-27:06.30), Roy Englert (M80-30:27.75) and William Benson (M85-34:45.54).

In the women's 5,000m winners included Judith Wilson (W35-18:30.14), Karen Jeffers (W40-18:51.40), Kathy Martin (W50-18:19.69), Mary Harada (W65-25:59.45), Lois Gilmore (W70-27:21.74), Lynette Lucess (W75-36:22.72), and Gerry Davidson (W80-35:42.26).

In the women's hammer throw the 2004 national champions are Jacqueline Nasca (W31-37.76m/123-11), Kelly Thompson (W35-26.40m/86-7), Oneithea Lewis (W40-51.30m/168-8), Carol Finsrud (W45-40.17m/131-9), Joyce Taylor (W50-33.08m/108-6) and Mary Hartzler (W55-37.94m/124-6). The men's hammer throw winners were 1972 Olympic Games Tom Gage (M60-59.03m/193-8) and Dick Hotchkiss (M65-40.23m/132-0).

Thomas Fahey of Chico, Calif., threw 48.55m/159-3 to win the M55 discus throw in a close contest against runner-up Tino Martinez of Ballwin, Mo., who had a mark of 48.08m/157-9. Other men's discus throw winners are Dennis Umshler (M50-47.78m/156-9).

In the women's pole vault, 50-year-old Rita Hanscom cleared 2.75m/9-0.25 to post the best mark by any woman on Thursday. Other pole vault winners were Pamela Willard (W40-2.65m/8-8.25), Liz Johnson (W45-1.55m/5-1), Hillen Stubendorff (W55-2.65m/8-8.25), Nadine O'Connor (W60-2.65m/8-8.25), Becky Sisley (W65-2.15m/7-0.50), Flo Meiler (W70-1.85m/6-0.75) and Johnnye Valien (W75-1.35m/4-5).

The javelin throw winners were Kristopher Williams (M35-50.36m/165-3), Scott Hannay (M40-56.77m/186-3) and Dennis Morris (M45-54.69m/179-5).

For more information on the 2004 USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships visit www.usatf.org.

[Peepers PV]

git-r-done grandpa! woo!

[KYLE ELLIS]

Ken Ellis is my dad and a member on here. He outta win a couple more golds!

[Bruce Caldwell]

Those are great results Congrats to the record setters.

Especially BUD and Grandpa bell

I have seen Granpa Bell pole vault he is awesome.

He has a full set of Skypoles that he uses in very small increments LOL

ANd Bud Held is Dick Held's Brother Dick used to work for Pacer and has invented the majority of javelins on the market today.

[Decamouse]

Get to watch M50 vault today - expect winner in mid 14 to 15' range - Sat. - is M45, M40 and the M30s - including PVJunkie - Kyle's dad will be hard pushed in M45 pole vault - Gary Hunter is the favorite - Ken was awesome in the Pent - The experienced Pole Vaulters like Pa Bell where something to see - really humbles ya - M40 - expect 16 plus -

[Bruce Caldwell]

Get to watch M50 vault today - expect winner in mid 14 to 15' range - Sat. - is M45, M40 and the M30s - including PVJunkie - Kyle's dad will be hard pushed in M45 pole vault - Gary Hunter is the favorite - Ken was awesome in the Pent - The experienced Pole Vaulters like Pa Bell where something to see - really humbles ya - M40 - expect 16 plus -

16+ PLUS that is awsome No way I at 53 could do half that
Any pics to post for all to see?

[Decamouse]

I will make an effort to take pics today - see if I can get them on-line this weekend

[PVJunkie]

To explain a little for Jeff..............he is competeing.........the Hep/Dec/open vault/open HJ..........heck i think he just entered every event. So getting the camera out while competeing is a little difficult.

[vaultmd]

Sorry I couldn't be there - I'm actually healthy enough to jump, for a change - but my high school's 100 year anniversary celebration is this weekend. This year would have been my 30th high school reunion, but we are doing the 100 year celebration, instead.

Tell Hunter I would have whupped his butt - if he spotted me two feet.

[Russ]

I sort of wish that I'd made the trip. But as it turned out, I'm a little injured anyway (slight calf strain...but I really couldn't have jumped today).

I can't wait to hear the results.

VaultMD, I think that I would have needed a 3-spot (and then some) in order to be in the 45-49 mix.