Friday, August 20, 2021

In Memoriam: Matt Lalumia Nancy Thomas Fred Zalokar

August 20, 2021. People die every day; each year we learn of runners who have passed away. But how can we lose three such vital runners in a single month, July 2021? And each one before their time. The loss of Matt Lalumia, Nancy Thomas, and Fred Zalokar would be heart-wrenching at any time. It is triply so this time.

I join their family, friends, teammates, and rivals in mourning for them, and invite you to join me and them in whatever way seems best to you. These three runners were important and vital members of our running community. As we go forward, let us remember them and their accomplishments and honor them with our deeds.

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Matt Lalumia Clifton Road Runners 81 Clifton, NJ. Lalumia was killed, on July 11th, by a speeding motor vehicle while on a run, a tragedy of epic proportion. The driver faces charges of vehicular manslaughter. 

Long-time friends noted Lalumia's positive outlook on life, his booming laugh and the child-like glint in his eyes...' 


Matt Lalumia in action Both photos from the Clifton Road Runners-single project

 

He was described as a 'perpetual volunteer.' From the pictures we can see that he was drawn to people and loved making connections.

Lalumia was a co-founder of the Clifton Road Runners, one of the most active clubs, not only in New Jersey, but nationally. When I started running on the Masters National Grand Prix circuit, the Clifton Road Runners were already active, and Lalumia was not only a guiding light for the Club, he was an important runner on their M70+ team. In 2014, when I was a ‘wet behind the ears’ M65 runner, Lalumia was already taking a Silver Medal in the M75 division at Club Cross on the Lehigh course in Bethlehem, PA. He helped Clifton’s M70+ team to a Team Bronze Medal finish that year. He also regularly led the team into competition at the Masters 10 km Road Championships, hosted by the James Joyce Ramble in Dedham MA, and at the Masters 5 km Road Championships, hosted by the Syracuse Festival of Races in Syracuse NY. In 2016 he captured the M75 Bronze Medal at both of those events, helping Clifton’s M70+ team to 4th at Dedham and 6th at Syracuse. But Lalumia’s gift was his enthusiasm for running and for his teammates and Clubmates. Outside of competing for Clifton, Lalumia ran in over 30 Marathons. A member of the US Marine Corps from 1958 to 1962, Lalumia was perhaps proudest of his M70 1st place at the Marine Corps Marathon in 2010. A longer list of Lalumia’s running exploits, covering the years from 1994 to 2008 can be found at the Clifton Road Runners remembrance of Lalumia’s roles with the Club See reference below. While working packet pickup for USATF at the 2017 8 km Championships, hosted by the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, I observed firsthand how warmly he greeted and was greeted, by anyone associated with Clifton or indeed with any runner he knew. He was slated to run with Clifton’s M80+ team at the USATF Masters 12 Km Championships. He would be happy to know that the M80+ team will compete at that race in his honor.

Matt Lalumia, doing what he loved best Photo Credit: Facebook post

 

Here is a list showing Lalumia’s participation in USATF Masters LDR Championships from 2014 through 2018:

2014 USATF Masters 10 km Championships at James Joyce Ramble Dedham MA

              Individual: 55:31-----17th in M70

              Team: #3 runner on 4th place M70+ team

2014 USATF Club XC Championships at Lehigh University 8 km, Bethlehem PA

              Individual: 58:34 --- Silver Medal M75

              Team: #3 runner on Bronze Medal M70+ team

2015 USATF Masters 5 km Championships, organized by USATF-Adirondack at the Saratoga Spa State

Park, Saratoga Springs, NY

              Individual: 27:17 --- 4th place M75

              Team: # 3 runner on Bronze Medal M70+ team

2015 USATF Masters 5 km Championships at the Syracuse Festival of Races, Syracuse NY

              Individual: 26:50 --- 4th place M75

              Team: #3 runner on 4th place M70+ team

2016 USATF Masters 10 km Championships at James Joyce Ramble, Dedham MA

              Individual: 55:05 ---Bronze Medal M75

              Team: #4 runner on 4th place M70+ team

2016 USATF Masters 5 km Championships at the Syracuse Festival of Races, Syracuse NY

              Individual: 27:38 --- Bronze Medal M75

              Team: #3 runner on 6th place M70+ team

2017 USATF Masters 8 km Championships at the Shamrock Marathon Weekend’s Towne Bank 8K,

Virginia Beach, VA

              Individual: 47:28 --- 6th place M75

              Team: #3 runner on 4th place M70+ team

2018 USATF Masters 8 km Championships at the Shamrock Marathon Weekend’s Towne Bank 8K,

Virginia Beach, VA

              Individual: 47:07 --- 6th place M75

              Team: #4 runner on 5th place M70+ team

 

Sources:

https://www.marroccos.com/obituaries/Marinus-Lalumia-2/#!/Obituary

https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/southpassaic/news/charges-filed-in-auto-death-of-beloved-clifton-icon/812692/

https://www.cliftonroadrunners.com/single-project

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Nancy Thomas Impala Racing Team 50 San Francisco CA succumbed to Ovarian Cancer after a long, courageous battle with the disease. I knew of Thomas long before I met her. I started chronicling Masters National Championships in 2014. Pretty soon I began seeing her name frequently and prominently in National Championship results. Whenever the Impala Racing competed in a W40+ championship, Thomas would be one of the key runners on the team. She would also, typically, be among the top 10 individuals. I met Thomas briefly after the post-Club Cross-Masters National Grand Prix Awards Ceremony in Bethlehem PA in 2019. We just exchanged a few pleasantries but I assumed we would meet many times in years to come as she seemed very committed to her team and was clearly a nationally competitive runner. I was not surprised to see that she won the W50 Gold Medal at the 2020 USATF Cross Country Championships a month later and was the #2 runner on the W40+ Impala team that finished just off the podium.

Nancy Thomas flying toward the finish and her W50 Gold Medal at the 2020 USATF Cross Country Championships at Mission Bay, San Diego CA Photo by Michael Scott

 

Two months later, in late March, though, things changed dramatically. She posted that, on February 22nd, she had sought out advice from a running acquaintance who was a doctor and, on that advice had seen health professionals; a CT scan turned up a mass on one of her ovaries. With that post in March, she started an online journal chronicling her journey with ovarian cancer on the Caring Bridge site at: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/impalanancy/journal

The Impala Racing Team honored her as the Impala of the Month for March both for her National Championship in San Diego and for publicly sharing a log of her bout with ovarian cancer. You can read about it here.

Nancy Thomas celebrating after the race Photo posted at Caring Bridge

 

It was a journey she did not want, but Thomas was committed to overcoming the disease, and to not let the disease win. Her indomitable spirit, as well as her sense of humor, comes through to anyone who reads her account. In February of this year, she posted an entry, titled ‘Cancerversary’ that began, “Feb 22 is my cancerversary i.e. 1 year from my diagnosis. Of course, no one wants to have a cancerversary but once you have cancer you want to have as many as possible.  In fact, after writing it three times I will happily go a year without saying it again.” After a few more posts with a mix of unhappy news but keeping our chins up entries, the heart-breaking news came on July 30th, that she died at home, as comfortably as possible, in the company of a few souls who loved her dearly.

To my surprise I learned that Thomas was an accomplished equestrian as well as a nationally competitive runner. Among other things, a note from the Sonoma Horse Park noted, “๐ด๐‘  ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ž๐‘ข๐‘–๐‘›๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘›๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘Ž๐‘™ โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘ค๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘›, ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘™๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘ก๐‘’ ๐‘œ๐‘“ ๐‘’๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘ฆ โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘ โ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘‘๐‘’, ๐‘ โ„Ž๐‘’ โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘  ๐‘™๐‘’๐‘“๐‘ก ๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘‘๐‘’๐‘™๐‘–๐‘๐‘™๐‘’ ๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘˜ ๐‘œ๐‘› ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘’๐‘ž๐‘ข๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘š๐‘ข๐‘›๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘ฆ ๐‘“๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘š ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘Ž๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘Ž๐‘ ๐‘ก.On August 15, 2021 the Sonoma Horse Park Seasonal Finale Horse Show included a hunter derby as its last event of the day, the Nancy Thomas Memorial Derby, to raise funds for the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. Although it is too late to attend the Derby, it is not too late to donate to the OCRA in Thomas’s honor.

There will be a Memorial service at some time in the future, when indoor events are again advisable, given covid precautions in San Francisco. I understand the Impala Racing team is developing a Nancy Thomas tribute page for their new website.

Originally scheduled for December 2020, the USATF Club Cross Country Championships in San Francisco, was the race that Thomas was training for while she could still run. Covid forced the postponement of that event to December 2022. Perhaps the Impala Racing Team can work with the Pacific Association, the USATF Cross Country Council, and the USATF Masters LDR Committee to have a remembrance in Thomas’s honor at that event. 

As noted, Thomas was a decorated runner, earning at least two individual National Championships, and several Silver and Bronze individual medals at National Championships. She was happiest competing for her Impala Racing club and was a proud an indispensable member of the teams that took home three team National Championships. 

Nancy Thomas impishly proposing a root beer as the Impala Beer of the Year Photo posted at Caring Bridge

One of her Impala teammates referred to her as ‘..the Cross Country Queen of our team.’ Her USATF MLDR achievements, primarily at Cross Country Championships, from 2013 through 2020 are detailed here:

Nancy Thomas’s running achievements on the National Stage—2013 - 2020

2 Individual Gold Medals       3 Individual Silver Medals     2 Individual Bronze Medals

3 Team Gold Medals               2 Team Silver Medals            2 Team Bronze Medals

 

Masters National Grand Prix Circuit Honors:

INDIVIDUAL

5th place W45 in 2018

              2nd place W45 in 2019

TEAM

Member of 2nd place W40+ team in 2018

              Member of 1st Place W40+ team in 2019

 

USATF Masters National Championships:

              2013 USATF Club XC Championships in Bend OR

              Individual: 27:23---27th place W40   6 km

                             Team: # 2 runner on 6th place W40+ team

              2014 USATF Club XC Championships in Bethlehem PA Lehigh U

              Individual: 23:23---19th place W40  6 km

                             Team: # 2 runner on 6th place W40+ team

              2015 USATF Club XC Championships in San Francisco CA Golden Gate Park

              Individual: 23:57---7th place W45  6 km

                             Team: # 4 runner on Bronze Medal W 40+ team

              2016 USATF Club XC Championships in Tallahassee FL

Individual: 23:07---2nd place W45  6 km

              Team: # 1 runner on 5th place W40+ team

2017 USATF Club XC Championships in Lexington KY

              Individual: 23:48---5th place W45  6 km

                             Team: # 2 runner on Silver Medal W40+ team

              2018 USATF Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee FL

              Individual: 24:03---3rd place W45  6 km

                             Team: # 2 runner on Gold Medal W40+ team

              2018 USATF Masters 5 km Championships in Atlanta GA Atlanta’s Finest 5K

              Individual: 20:37---6th place W45

Team: # 3 runner on Bronze Medal W 40+ team

              2018 USATF Club XC Championships in Spokane WA 

              Individual: 24:01---2nd place- W45  6 km

Team: # 1 runner for 6th place W40+ team

5th place in 2018 Masters National Grand Prix-Individual—W45

2nd place in 2018 Masters National Grand Prix-Club--W40+

Nancy Thomas running with her pooch in better days Photo posted at Caring Bridge


2019 USATF Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee FL      

              Individual: 24:40---1st place W45  6 km

                            Team: # 1 runner for Gold Medal W40+ team

              2019 USATF Masters 5 km Championships in Atlanta GA Atlanta’s Finest 5K

              Individual: 19:11---2nd place W45

                             Team: # 2 runner for Silver Medal W40+ team

2nd Place in 2019 Masters National Grand Prix-Individual---W45

1st Place in 2019 Masters National Grand Prix-Club--W40+

 

              2019 USATF Club XC Championships in Bethlehem PA Lehigh U

              Individual: 24:28---3rd place- W50  6 km

                            Team: # 2 runner on Gold Medal W50+ team

              2020 USATF XC Championships in San Diego CA Mission Bay

              Individual: 26:09---1st place—W50  6 km

Team: # 2 runner on 4th place W40+ team

Leader in 2019-2021 Masters National Grand Prix-Individual standings—W50

2nd Place in 2019 Masters National Grand Prix- Club--W40+

2nd Place in 2019 Masters National Grand Prix- Club—W50+

 

Photos from caringbridge.org

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/impalanancy/photos

 

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Fred Zalokar 61 Reno NV was not associated with a team in the way that Lalumia and Thomas were. The phrase ‘rugged individualist’ comes to mind. Zalokar drove himself to achieve big goals, primarily on his own. Initially an accomplished ultra-marathoner, he also found time to develop a reputation as an intrepid mountain climber. According to an article in IRunFar, Zalokar scaled 185 mountains between 1990 and 2020, including reaching the summits of the highest mountain in each of 5 different continents. He aimed to reach all 7 continents but was not able to accomplish that. He attempted Mt. Everest once but was not able to make it to the summit. That was one of the very few of his stated goals that he did not fully achieve. Take the title in the Rock n Roll Half Marathon series in three consecutive years-done! Take your Age Division title in each of the six Abbott World Major Marathons-done!

Fred Zalokar, far right, in the thick of things at the 2017 USATF Masters 5 km Championships in Syracuse NY Photo by Amir Findling

 

According to a report in IRunFar, on Saturday, July 17, 2021 Zalokar registered, with the Yosemite National Park Service, a solo day hike from Bunnel Point in Yosemite Valley to Mt. Clark using an off-trail route. When Zalokar did not return before nightfall, a search was initiated. On Tuesday, July 20th, the NPS reported that Zalokar’s body had been found. Four days later the Reno Gazette reported that the Mariposa County Sherriff’s Office had ruled that the death was accidental. It was a tragic end to an adventurous life. We can all take some solace in the fact that he was doing what he loved, right up until the end.

Consider Zalokar’s achievements as a runner, over 34 years.

Fred Zalokar, left, clad for an unseasonably frigid day in Tulsa, charges toward the finish line at the 2017 USATF Masters 15 km Championships Photo by barnezydc.smugmug.com

 

The first race Athlinks has listed for Zalokar is the 1987 edition of the Jed Smith Ultra Classic, a 50-Miler; he was 26 at the time and finished 3rd out of 34 men and 1st of two in the 20-29 age division. He went back a year later, dropping his time from 8:15:25 to 6:58:53. Nonetheless, as often happened in those early days, the race grew faster as Zalokar did, and he finished 13th overall out of 63 men and 3rd in Men 20-29 out of 9. In those early years he focused on one ultra a year, whether Western States, Dipsea, or the Wasatch 100. At the age of 37, the first ‘short’ race is recorded, the Reno Air 15K; he finished mid-pack in 57:30. Zalokar would run faster 15K’s 20 years later. As he entered his 40’s, Zalokar added more short races and got faster, winning the 5K of the Valley of the Sun Marathon in Mesa AZ in 16:57. In 2002, at the age of 42, Zalokar found the National Club Cross Championship, held in Rocklin CA. He finished 81st in 39:25 in the 10 km race, and helped his team, the Silver State Striders, to a 12th place M40+ finish. Between then and 2015 he ran plenty of fast races, Half Marathons especially, racking up points in the Rock N Roll Half Marathon series. He won the Rock n Roll Half Marathon series in three consecutive years, 2013-2015. He hatched a plan as he approached his 55th birthday to attempt to win his Age Division at each of the Abbot World Major Marathons, New York, Chicago, and Boston in the US, along with Berlin, London and Tokyo. He would be the first ever to achieve that. Between 2010 and 2012, he had taken Age Division titles at Berlin, Boston and Chicago but had run into trouble at the 2011 NYC Marathon and did not have that one. He apparently also missed the victory on his first London Marathon attempt, as recorded on his website.

Berlin Marathon Sep 26 2010  2:37:03  1st M50

Boston Marathon Apr 18 2011  2:34:46  1st M50

BOA Chicago Oct 7 2012   2:35:10  1st M50

On November 1, 2015, he made another attempt at winning his age division at the NYC Marathon. He ran 2:43:10 to finish 1st M55. Then there were just two missing. Just over 6 months later he knocked off the London Marathon on April 14, 2016, with a 2:39:50 effort. Ten months later he achieved his goal, running 2:45:14 in the Tokyo Marathon on Feb 19, 2017 to take the M55 1st place.  

 

Fred Zalokar, 2nd from right knit hat, dressed up for another cold day in Lexington KY at the 2017 USATF Club Cross Country Championships Photo by Michael Scott

At the same time he was engaged in pursuing the Abbot World Major Marathons, he was also testing the waters in the USATF Masters LDR National Championships. From 2015 to 2017 he competed in 9 USATF Masters National Championships, taking Gold twice in the Half Marathon 2015 & 2016 and once in the 15 km Championships 2016. Given his focus on the Marathon it is not so surprising that Zalokar had less success at distances under 15K. Once he finished the last of the Abbot World Majors, he apparently decided to compete in most of the remaining 2017 Masters National Championships. Zalokar no doubt developed a new respect for the level of competition. He was able to take 2nd place at the Half Marathon Championships in Newport Beach CA. But his other results that year included: 3rd at the1 Mile in Flint MI; 11th at the 5 km in Atlanta GA; 5th at the 15K in Tulsa OK; and 8th at Club Cross in Lexington KY. I did not know Zalokar but I became aware of him in 2017 at Newport Beach when he took 2nd in the Half Marathon behind Kevin Broady.  I had to leave early that day, so just claimed my Gold Medal and left before the Awards Ceremony. Otherwise I might have met him at that event. Later in the day if he was at the party hosted by the Cushing-Murray’s, I did not chance to talk with him. But he was definitely on my radar and I looked forward to meeting him at one of the Masters LDR Championships in the future.

Fred Zalokar charges up the hill to the end of the 2nd loop at the 2017 USATF Club Cross Country Championships in Lexington KY Photo by Michael Scott


 

And then he stopped participating. In 2018 his focus was on the Paris Marathon where he ran 2:48:01, finishing 7th in the Veteran 2 division, which may line up with 50-59. It is not definite, but it appears he intended to return to the USATF Masters National Grand Prix circuit.His most impressive performance may well have been his first in San Diego when he led Hall of Famer, Brian Pilcher, and three other decorated Masters runners across the line taking the M55 title in 1:15:32. The 90.18% age-grade score indicated Zalokar's effort was a 'World Class' performance.

On his website, Zalokar wrote: “Now it’s time for a new goal. I am interested in running some shorter distances, with a high level of age group competition, particularly the USATF Master’s Championship races. I also think that if I continue to train smart, and stay focused & healthy, I may be able to set an American age group record.” That goal will, unfortunately, elude him; others will have to chase it for him. 

Zalokar's USATF Masters National Championship Races

2015 USATF Masters Half Marathon Championships in San Diego CA Rock n Roll HM

1st Place M55---1:15:32   

2016 USATF Masters Half Marathon Championships in San Diego CA Rock n Roll HM

1st Place M55---1:16:28

2016 USATF Masters 5 km Championships in Syracuse NY Syracuse Festival of Races

4th Place M55---17:15

2016 USATF Masters 15 km Championships in Tulsa OK Tulsa Federal Credit Union Tulsa Run

1st Place M55---55:25

2017 USATF Masters Half Marathon Championships in Newport Beach CA OC Marathon & HM

2nd Place M55---1:20:25

2017 USATF Masters One Mile Championships in Flint MI HAP Crim Festival of Races

3rd Place M55---5:09

2017 USATF Masters 5 km Championships in Atlanta GA Atlanta's Finest 5K

12th Place M55---17:54

2017 USATF Masters 15 km Championships in Tulsa OK Tulsa Federal Credit Union Tulsa Run

5th place M55---58:34

2017 USATF Club Cross Country Championships in Lexington KY

8th Place M55---37:56 

There will be ample opportunity for our fastest Masters runners to assault the record books in the remainder of 2021 and 2022. This year and next Masters National Championships include the 12 km at the By Hook Or By Crook course on a flat spit of land sticking out from the northern end of the Jersey Shore. Next year features the Sactown 10, a relatively flat and fast 10 Mile race in Sacramento CA. The 1 Mile race at Rochester is on the same road course used for USA Cycling’s Criterium bike race; that should be at least as fast as the course in Flint MI. The Mile is still relatively young as a Masters National Championship event; it has been held only since 2013, so it would be reasonable to expect some records to fall.  Nonetheless these are not soft records; it will take a mighty effort by a superbly fast runner to break one. Perhaps if one of our fastest Masters runners has a successful try for an American record this year or next, they would dedicate the record to Zalokar’s memory?

 

Sources:

https://www.irunfar.com/fred-zalokar-death-ynp

https://www.athlinks.com/search/unclaimed?category=unclaimed&term=Fred%20Zalokar

https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2021/08/03/reno-endurane-athete-fred-zalokars-death-yosemite-ruled-accidental/5477448001/

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/22/us/fred-zalokar-yosemite-dead.html

http://fredzalokar.com/about/

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Memorable Middle Distance Races in Ames-2021 USATF Outdoor Championships

 August 7, 2021. Most of the runners who entered the Outdoor Championships competed in the 5000 and 10,000 meter events. But many others who love the Middle Distances also run Cross Country or even Road Championships from time to time. As with the longer distances, American Records were set in both the 800 and 1500---Check out the 800 Meter results at W85 and W55 and the 1500 Meter results for W55 and M75!

800 METERS The 800 meter race went off on Saturday from 11:45 AM to 2 PM. Under fair skies, the temperatures started at 86 degrees and rose to the low 90's before the last heat ended. Luckily this was an 800 meter run, not an 8K run. The wind was mostly moderate around 6 mph but it occasionally rose to 10 mph. [No splits provided in the results; that lack limits the detail I can provide/improvise.]

Notes: 

1. As with all Track and Field recaps, any age grade scores reported are based on the latest Calculator available specifically for Track & Field. The 2015 factors have been updated but will not be implemented until approved by the WMA at their 2022 meeting in Tampere, Finland. The current calculator is located at: http://www.howardgrubb.co.uk/athletics/wmalookup15.html

2. I use the Masters LDR definition of Masters runners being 40 and up. Masters TF Championships include younger runners. I have not reported on their races.

11:45 AM W70+

W85 Tami Graf Potomac Valley TC  was unopposed, taking the win in 7:34.33. Not taking a shot at the record allowed her to take it easy and save energy for some of the other events she entered. Graf competed in the 800, 1500, 5000, and 10,000 Meters among the flat races, added the 200 meter hurdles and 2,000 meter steeplechase, and, for good measure, threw in the Javelin and Discus. Not only that, she broke the American Record in the 5000 and 10,000 meter runs!

W75  Kathleen Frable So Cal TC took this heat by a half minute in 4:47.04, with Angela Staab 2nd.

W70 Coreen Steinbach Unattached had no problem with the heat as she took the win with a half minute to spare in 3:05.85. Nancy Rollins who took wins in the 5000 and 10000 meter runs, finished 2nd, followed by Norma Hudnall and Isabel Bentz.

11:55 AM W60-69

W65 Amy McCormack Unattached won by 20 seconds in 3:11.33, followed by Mary Lowe Mayhugh in 2nd.  Debra Wood was just 4 seconds back in 3rd. 

W60 Lesley Hinz T.H.E. TC edged Julie Hayden by 2 seconds, winning in 2:45.11.

12:03 PM W55  Michelle Rohl Greater Philadelphia TC was going up against a loaded field of highly decorated runners; Alisa Harvey and Lorraine Jasper have taken the Gold at races on the track,t he roads, and in Cross Country. Rohl went off confidently and took care of business. Not only did she win the race, she took down the American Record by over 2 seconds! Rohl clocked 2:23.26, five seconds clear of Harvey, who took Silver, one second ahead of Bronze medalist Lisa Valle.

12:11 PM W50 Dianne DeOliveira Bella N Motion clocked 2:26 to take the win with ten seconds to spare. Terry Ballou took second, with April Flynn six seconds back in 3rd.

12:19 PM W40-49

W45 Euleen Josiah-Turner T.H.E. TC took one of her four Gold Medals at these Championships in 2:38:30. Twenty seconds later Melissa Cockerham took 2nd, with Lace Luedke 8 seconds back in 3rd.

W40 Christine Laccata Garden State TC won the Gold Medal with a 2:24.07, eight seconds ahead of Alison Schwalm. A half minute after Schwalm claimed Siver, the Bronze medals was decided by four seconds as Alex Dietrich  edged Melissa Cote.

12:35 PM M80+

M90 Gunnar Linde So Cal TC ran 4:58.15 to win the Gold Medal with 2 minutes to spare over Vance Genzlinger. This was one of four Golds that Linde won.

M85 Inocencio Cantu Potomac Valley TC won this division unopposed in 3:48.87.

M80 Sherwood Sagedahl Unattached ran 3:27.68 to win the division by over half a minute. Johnnie Lucassen, Jr. So Cal TC took 2n d place, almost half a minute over Ram Satyaprasad, the first of three New England 65 Plus Runners Club to compete in the division.

12:45 PM M75 If he had not been focused on nailing the American Record in his primary event, the 1500 Meters, the following day, Gary Patton So Cal TC might well have taken down the 800 Meter M75 Record in this race. Patton's winning time of 2:38.25 was only 1.19 seconds off the record! William Reiter came across the finish line 25 seconds later in second. A minute later  Hal Lieberman claimed 3rd.

12:53 PM M70 Ten runners toed the starting line and there were plenty of fireworks. This must have been fun to watch. Nolan Shaheed So Cal TC was not gunning for a record and was content to wait until the right moment and bring it home for the win in 2:48.58. Three seconds later, David Williams edged Jerry Learned by 0.7 seconds. Learned showed the toughness I have come to admire from his participation in many Road and Cross Country Championships, but had to settle for a Bronze medal this time..  

1:05 PM M65 Stephen Chantry Colonial Road Runners claimed the division Gold Medal with a solid 2:36.26. Sixteen seconds later, John Harmon claimed second, with Peter Michaelson another 7 seconds back in third.

 1:13 PM M60 This must also have been fun to watch-the top 6 finishers were within six seconds of one another! With a fitting surname, Rob Class Run MN pulled away from the field to win the Division in 2:17.56. William Yelverton was just one second back, edging Kevin Paulk for the Silver Medal by a mere 0.45 seconds! Michael Lebold missed the podium by a second and was followed closely by McDuffrie Allen and David Westenberg.

1:28 PM M55 Throw a blanket over the top 4! Mike Nier Genesee Valley Harriers had just enough to take this one with a 2:18.73, claiming the Gold Medal by a half second over Jeff Mann, with John Borthwick another half second back in 3rd, and Alan Wells hot on his heels in 4th place. Nier is the mainstay of the Genesee Valley Harriers M50+ team and knows how to win, whether on the track, the cross country turf or the roads!

1:38 PM M50 Mark Yuen has been one of the key contributors to the West Valley Track Club,  helping them to podium finishes at a number of USATF Masters Cross Country Championships. Yuen celebrated his new Age Division by taking the Gold in 2:03.89. Eight seconds later bernard Henry took 2nd, just three seconds ahead of Myron Filipoff.

1:45 PM M45 This division featured the always entertaining rivalry between Peter Brady and Mark Williams. This outing belonged to Williams Unattached, who got the coveted sub-2 at 800 Meters, nailing the win in 1:59.42. No doubt Williams ran faster, knowing that Brady was chasing him. 

Mark Williams heads for the finish line, an M45 win and  sub-2 800 Meter Run at the 2021 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships in Ames IA Photo by Tina Klein, posted on FB

 

Brady claimed 2nd, less than 3 seconds back, with Ryan Anderson in 3rd, another 3 seconds behind Brady.

1:52 PM M40 This division featured another tight race. Joshua Slamka Wisconsin Runner Racing Team just missed a sub-2, but his 2:00.30 was good enough to edge Philip Stead by a half second! Jason Abbot claimed the Bronze Medal 2.6 seconds later.

1500 METERS To beat the heat, these races were scheduled between 8 and 10 AM Sunday morning. As a result, the athletes encountered temperatures ranging from 78 for the first heat to 83 degrees for the last division to race. The athletes did not disappoint, with two turning in American Record-breaking performances. Look for the ** below for the record-breakers!

8AM W70+ 

**W85 Tami Graf Potomac Valley TC finished off her middle distance double (distance quadruple/Track & Field octuple!) with yet another Gold as she won in 13:19.76.

W75 Angela Staab Piedmont Pacers TC took the honors with a 11:44.71 Gold Medal effort.

W70 Victorious earlier in the 200, 400, and 800, Coreen Steinbach Unattached capped off her weekend with the Gold Medal in the 1500. Her 6:28.18 95.15% PLP enabled her to coast home victorious. A minute and change later, Norma Hudnall claimed the Silver Medal, followed 20 seconds later by Isabel Bentz in 3rd.

8:15 AM W60 - 69

W65 Amy McCormack Unattached took her 4th distance Gold Medal in 6:27.84 89.61% PLP; there was a 40 meter gap back to the rest of the field. It was a tight race for the remaining two medals. Debra Wood pulled away to claim 2nd with 10 meters to spare. She was followed by Mary Lowe Mayhugh in third, with Terry Ozell 4th.

W60 In one of the closest races of the day, Lesley Hinz T.H.E. TC edged Julie Hayden by a single stride. Hinz's time was 5:40.29 97.39%PLP; Hayden was credited with a 5:40.90 94.34%

Lesley Hinz sprints for the Finish Line and a swift win in the W60 1500 Meter Run at the 2021 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships in Ames IA Photo by Tina Klein, posted on FB

 

The top two both turned in World Class times!  

Julie Porter Hayden strides toward the finish line and a Silver Medal in the W60 division at the 2021 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships in Ames IA Photo by Tina Klein, posted on FB

Eugenie Candon claimed the Bronze Medal nineteen seconds later, followed by Cheryl Bellaire in 4th.

8:30 AM **W55 With top runners like Lisa Veneziano, Alisa Harvey, Lorraine Jasper, and Michelle Allen in the field, Michelle Rohl Greater Philadelphia TC knew she needed to give her best effort and she did not disappoint. Her 4:54.16 gave her 30 meters on the field and a new American Record! Two events, two Golds, two American Records, not a bad weekend's work! To give some perspective, Veneziano's 2nd place time of 5:05.65 earned her a 97.99% age grade score. Rohl's was 100.42%! Veneziano took Silver two seconds ahead of Lisa Valle

Lisa Veneziano on the way to a 2nd place finish in the W55 1500 Meter Run at the 2021 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships in Ames IA Photo by Clint 'Flash' Santoro

 

who had two seconds on Alisa Harvey; Harvey was followed another two seconds later by Judy Stobbe.

8:40 AM W50 Dianne DeOliveira Bella N Motion had a 35 meter lead as she crossed the finish line, with the win, in 5:21.90. Elizabeth Guerrini took 2nd, followed a dozen seconds later by Tracy Lee of Ireland.

8:48 AM W40 - 49

W45 Euleen Josiah-Tanner T.H.E. TC took her 4th Gold Medal with a 5:14.66 effort that gave her more than a hundred meters for her margin of victory. Bridget Augustine finished 2nd with Melissa Cockerham 13 seconds back in 3rd.

W40  Jodi Smith Unattached had a lead of over a hundred meters on Canada's Amy Armstrong when she crossed the finish line in 4:56.12. Seventeen seconds later, Sara Schwendinger claimed the Bronze Medal.

8:56 AM M75+

M90 Gunnar Linde 93 So Cal TC claimed his 4th Gold Medal with a time of 10:25.54. Vance Genzlinger finished 2nd three minutes later.

M85 Inocencio Cantu Potomac Valley TC finished his middle distance double with a second Gold Medal effort, topping his rival by 2 and a half minutes in 7:49.10. Colben Sime claimed his Silver to go with his Gold Medals in the 5000 and 10000 Meters.

M80 Sherwood Sagedahl Unattached added the 1500 Meter Gold to go with the 400 and 800 meter Golds he won in the sprints. He had half a minute on the field, winning in 7:03.73. Roland Cormier and Stan Edelson were locked in a tight battle for 2nd place. By the end Cormier had carved out a 5 meter edge to take Silver. Cormier added this to his other two silver medals and his Gold in steeplechase. Edelson enjoyed his second Bronze medal.

**M75  This was the main event for Gary Patton So Cal TC. Earlier this year he broke the M75 1 Mile Record on the Roads with a 5:56 effort in Lincoln Nebraska. But his main focus is always on the track. In March Patton ran a 5:22.38 in a sanctioned track meet in Phoenix. As of July, though, the paperwork was still uncompleted. Fearing that time might not be approved as a US Record, Patton decided to aim for the 1500 Meter record at Ames. The idea was to go for an easy win on Saturday in the 800 Meters. That certainly would have been possible; he could have stayed behind the 2nd place runner and kicked away at the end. But, in the end, Patton couldn't make his body go that slowly. He just had to run it. In the end, he almost pocketed the 800 Meter Record, finishing just 1.19 seconds off of it. So much for taking it easy! Nonetheless, he took off on Sunday as if he meant to get the 1500 Meter Record anyway. He just had to hit his splits. In the end it worked out perfectly; the weeks of preparation paid off. Patton's 5:19.87 not only got him the M75 Gold Medal, it got him the record. He now owns the Outdoor 1500 Meter Record for M65, M70 and M75! Patton also collected a 94.51% age grade score, world class all the way! Norman Frable took 2nd in 8:49.19.

9:11 AM M70 Nolan Shaheed So Cal TC collected his second middle distance gold medal, crossing the finish line in 5:47.83. Thirty meters back, Jerry Learned and David Williams were matching each other stride for stride. Williams had nipped Learned for 2nd in the 800 by 0.7 seconds. Who would get Silver this time? Strength won over speed this time as Learned clocked 5:55.71, to edge Williams for 2nd by a mere 0.6 seconds. Peter Mullin was just off the pace in 4th.

9:19 AM M65 Stephen Chantry Colonial Road Runners earned his second gold medal, coming across the finish line in 5:18.57 with 30 meters of daylight back to the next athlete.  Kenneth Hammer took 2nd 20 meters ahead of Thomas McBride III.

9:27 & 10:10 AM  M60 This was the longest 1500 Meter race in memory. The gun went off as scheduled at 9:27 AM. Seven hundred meters into the race the Officials realized the timing system had malfunctioned. They decided to stop the race and rerun it after a 40 minute break. Most runners were confused and some were unhappy. In the end, though, everyone accepted that it was the card they had been dealt, and they could and would deal with it. 

 

M60 1500 Meter competitors and the Official who stopped the race due to a timing malfunction--all smiles and ready for a break and a re-run at the 2021 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships in Ames IA Photo posted on FB by David Westenberg, 2nd from right

At 10:10 everyone lined up again, the gun sounded, and the race was on. By the bell lap, Rob Class Run MN had a gap on three athletes who were locked on each other, Mark Carver, Kevin Paulk, and David Westenberg. Class took the Gold Medal, crossing the finish line thirty meters ahead of the field in 4:47.35 89.06% PLP. The other three hit the final turn still together, with Carver struggling to maintain contact. In the end, it came down to the last hundred meters. Paulk had just enough in the tank to gain the Silver Medal with a fine 4:55.10 86.72%, edging Westenberg by just 0.2 seconds. Westenberg had to settle fro the Bronze medal, but at 63 to Paulk's 60 years of age, Westenberg had the higher age grade score 88.99%. Carver was 8 meters back, just off the podium. William 'Hugh' Enicks III, who took 2nd in the 10,000 meters, turned in a 5:08.29 83.75% to finish 6th. Steve Brumwell, one of the stalwarts for the Cal Coast M60 + team, who is working his way back into condition, finished 8th.

9:35 AM M55 David White West Valley TC made his trip from the West Coast count; he collected the Gold Medal with a fine 4:37.14 89.20% PLP. Five seconds later, Dean Thompson gained the Silver medal by half a  stride over Mike Nier. Alejandro Heuck was another full stride back, just off the podium, followed in close order by Jeff Mann, Dale Flanders, and Francis Burdett.

9:43 AM M50 Like his teammate in M55, Mark Yuen West Valley made sure the trip from the west Coast was worth it; he took his 2nd middle distance Gold Medal with a 4:18.19 91.13%. This race was more spread out; Brian Schilling was almost 50 meters back, finishing strong to take 2nd in 4:27.55 87.95%. Ten seconds later Mark Elworthy outlasted a strong close by Bernard Henry to take the Bronze.

9:51 AM M45 The Dynamic Duo of Peter Brady and Mark Williams Unattached was at it again. This weekend, the honors go to Williams, who outran Brady in both the 800 and 1500. Brady may be thinking, "Hmmm, maybe there is something to this 3,728 consecutive days of workouts!?" 

Mark Williams lime singlet overtaking Peter Brady orange singlet in the M45 1500 Meter Run-Does competition get any better than this? Photo posted on FB by Peter Brady

 

In any case, Williams was able to pull away on the last lap to take the win with a dozen meters to spare, clocking 4:08.98 92.98%. The clock ticked to 4:12.07 92.59%. Brady will lick his wounds, rehab whatever needs rehabbing, and be back to challenge Williams at the next Championship! And back and forth it will go in this ongoing battle of the Champions! Jonathan Bishard of the KC Smoke was only two seconds behind Brady, nearly upsetting the apple cart of the two NY/NJ track stars!

9:59 AM M40 Chuck Schneekloth, the 2019 USATF Masters Road Mile Overall Champion with the Garden State TC, was out to see if he still had the speed to take the M40 title in his last year in the age division. He was going up against Philip Stead Unattached, a newcomer to the division. who took the 800 Meter title in 2:00.89. After an initial sorting, Schneekloth fell in behind Stead and stayed just off his shoulder for the first two laps. Jeremy Ruston was shadowing Schneekloth. As they approached the bell lap, Schneekloth had fallen a 5 meters back from Stead, and Ruston made his move, kicking past Schneekloth. Stead continued moving well in first. Schneekloth accelerated, passing Ruston on the last turn, but Stead had too much of a lead as he eased across the finish line to claim the Gold in 4:11.70 86.53% PLP. Schneekloth took 2nd in 4:13.01 88.73%, with Ruston taking the bronze two seconds later, just ahead of Abraham Mendoza. I would say Schneekloth is looking forward to being in the M45 division next year, were it not that he will have to compete against Williams and Brady--no easy victories in Masters Track and Field!

That sums up Masters LDR participation in the middle distance and distance events at the 2021 Outdoor Championships. Next up for Masters LDR athletes, the USATF Masters 12 km Championships on the Sandy Hook National Gateway Park at Highlands NJ!