Olympian Ed Burke
BOSTON–(USNewswire)–Three-time Olympian Ed Burke, the US flagbearer at the 1984 Olympics, broke the world record for men 70-74 three times in the 16-pound weight throw with a toss of 20.93 meters/68 ft. 8 inches in a special night session at the USA Masters Indoor Track Championships in Boston.
The special session, at the conclusion of the day’s events, ensured safety at the track, because of Burke’s distances. The throwing area was reconfigured to allow for the record throws. Burke, 74, from Los Gatos, CA, broke the existing record three times. Burke said he is “very pleased with the result. I did it because I stayed healthy. Proper preparation played into it. I started in November throwing heavy weights. Masters track is a wonderful, motivating outlet.”
Also at the 2014 USA Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships today, Irene Obera of Fremont, CA , on the meet’s first day, obliterated the world W80 400 meter mark by over 20 seconds minute and the US mark by almost a half minute.. The Fremont, Calif. native isn’t done yet, as she competes in the women’s 60m, 200m and shot put over the next two days. Though she hadn’t competed in a nationals for three years, she said she had so much fun that she announced her intention to compete in this summer’s July 17-20 outdoor USA Masters Championships in Winston-Salem, NC.
Another world record was set Friday, as Robert Hewitt, of Gresham, Oregon, turned in a score of 4,349 points in the M80 pentathlon, shattering the previous record by nearly 500 points. Hewitt bested the field of M70-84 competitors in the long jump (4.00m – 1,048 pts) and put forth top-two finishes in the 60mH (11.72 – 979 pts), shot put (9.64m – 814 pts) and high jump (1.23m – 915 pts) to position himself within striking distance of the record. Hewitt needed just 123 points to set the new world record and did just that, registering a 5:14.95 finish in the 1,000m for 593 points.
Nolan Shaheed, of Pasadena, CA, 64, was tremendous in the M60-64 3,000 meters, besting the field by nearly a minute and crossing in 10:23.42. This is the first of three events for Shaheed in Boston, competing in the 800m and the mile later in the meet. Shaheed, in addition to being a world champion mastedrs distance runner, is a jazz great, playing lead trumpet with Dizzie Gillespie, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Count Basie, Marvin Gaye, and on recent tv shows including The Emmy’s, The Voice, and American Idol. He will continue competing at the upcoming Budapest World Masters Championships later this month.
Wayne Sabin, of Milwaukie, Oregon, 80, set a new American record in the super weight throw (25 lb), tossing a mark of 9.01m/29-6.75.
Leland McPhie, a World War II veteran and former San Diego sheriff captain who turned 100 March 10, competed in the men’s weight throw and super weight throw. McPhie, of San Diego, a fan favorite at the meet, will also compete in the men’s high jump and shot put on Saturday afternoon. As the first centenarian ever to compete in the indoor high jump, McPhie would set the world mark in the event.
Tonight, three-time Olympian Ed Burke will compete in both the 70-74 men’s weight throw and super weight throw. Burke, the 1984 U.S. Flagbearer at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, is scheduled to throw.
The meet continues through Sunday with action beginning at 8:30 a.m. A facility-record 920 competitors are competing in Boston, including many local stars. The meet, open to the public and free of charge, is at the Reggie Lewis Track, 1350 Tremont Street.
47 reigning world champions are competing in Boston, as well as in Hungary for the World Masters Indoor Championships. 140 athletes will represent the U.S. in Budapest, Hungary beginning March 24.
The Boston meet shows that age is no boundary to fitness and skill, and acts as a means of achieving lifetime fitness and health.
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