2009 World Masters Games Athletics

Masters Athletes Show Elite Performances in Track and Field

Oct 20, 2009

2009 World Masters Games are not just the international meets for the "oldies that never made it". Results show ongoing elite performances of many masters athletes.

Several masters’ athletes who previously competed in track and field at state, national and international level have demonstrated close to their best performances at the World Masters Games.

The following selected results of Rachael Jackson, Francios Maasdorp, Matthew Pilkington, Olga Nelyubova, Anne Hare, Robert Ballard, Brad Monk, David Hoyle and Clay Tompkins all highlight ongoing elite performances of masters athletes in track and field.

Rachael Jackson Women’s 30-34 Years 100m

Rachael Jackson (33 years) still has all the speed of her youth powering to the line to win the 100m and 200m double in just 12.02 seconds and 25.20 seconds, respectively. Rachael was selected to represent Australia at the 1997 World Championships and was also placed 3rd at the national track and field championships in 1994-95 and 2000-01 with her best time of 11.62 seconds.

Rachael’s 100m time at the World Masters Games in Sydney was less than half a second slower than Olympian Melissa Medlicott’s Australian Masters record set in 2000.

Francios Maasdorp Men’s 30-34 Years 100m

South Africa’s international track and field athlete Francois Maasdorp (30 years) won gold in the 100m in a time of 10.92 seconds. Francois represented South Africa in 2001 at the IAAF Grand Prix in Pretoria in the 200m and 400m events where he ran times of 20.91sec and 46.12 sec, respectively.

Matthew Pilkington Men’s 35-39 Years 100m

Matthew Pilkington won the gold medal in the 100m in just 10.96seconds, breaking Peter O’Dwyer’s 2002 Australian masters record by 8/100ths of a second. Linford Christie of Great Britain still holds the World Masters record of 9.97 seconds since 1995.

Olga Nelyubova Women’s 45-49 Years 800m and 1500m

Russian Federation’s Olga Nelyubova (45 years) won the women’s 45-49 years 1500m in 4:45.81 and the 800m in 2:16.60. Olga represented Russia at various international indoor and outdoor track and field athletics meets between 1987 and 2002, mainly in 800m, 1500m, one mile and 3000m including the IAAF Grand Prix 1500m final, the 1997 and 1999 World Championships.

Anne Hare Women’s 45-49 Years 1500m and 5000m

Second place getter in the 1500m by just 4 seconds, Anne Hare from New Zealand is renowned for her international performances in 1500m and one mile in 2005-06 and particularly for her 2000m in 1986.

Anne Hare won gold in the 5000m in 17:58.0 well ahead of team mate Sally Gibbs, Australia’s Wendy Stewart and another of Russia’s internationally acclaimed athletes, half marathon runner Krystyna Pieczulis.

Robert Ballard Men’s 45-49 Years 100m and 400m

1988 Olympian Robert Ballard (45 years), bronze medallist at the 1988-89 Australian national 400m championships and member of the 1990 Commonwealth Games 4 x 400m team, was just 9/100ths of a second outside Bob Wishart’s 20 year old Australian masters 100m record time of 11.2 seconds. Robert also picked up the gold in the 400m in 51.06 seconds.

Brad Monk Men’s 45-49 Years Hammer Throw

The Australian national 1982-83 hammer throw champion, Brad Monk (46 years) won gold in the hammer with a throw of 49.64m, not far off his national gold medal result of 54.06m 27 years ago.

David Hoyle Men’s 45-49 Years High Jump

David Hoyle (46 years) was the Australian national high jump champion in 1980-81 and represented Australia at the Pacific Conference Games and the World Cup in 1981 with jumps of 2.10m. He won gold with a jump of 1.82m, just 2cm off Volodymyr Shelever’s 2007 Australian Masters record.

Clay Tompkins Men’s 55-59 Years Long Jump and Triple Jump

Clay Tompkins (56 years) of NSW jumped 5.27m in the men’s 55-59 years long jump final, just ahead of team mate and long term rival Gavin Murray from Tasmania.

Clay was the silver medallist for long jump and triple jump at the Australian Junior Track and Field Championships in 1970-71 while Gavin was the bronze medallist in triple jump at the same meet for 2 years running from 1971-1973. Clay also placed at the national championships for decathlon between 1973 and 1977.

Clay also won gold in the men’s 55-59 years triple jump at the 2009 World Masters Games with an 11.79m jump just 47cm short of his own Australian Masters record set in 2008.

These are just a small selection of the vast array of fantastic performances at the 2009 World Masters Games Athletics. Masters athletes at all ages in many events including throws, jumps, walks, sprints and distance running showed their ongoing dedication to the sport for some years to come. After all, Ruth Frith is an inspiration to us all.

The copyright of the article 2009 World Masters Games Athletics in Running Marathons/Races is owned by Sally Luxton. Permission to republish 2009 World Masters Games Athletics in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.