“Queens Athletes Win Masters Games.” (Press Release). Retrieved 2013-05-18. Archive Copy at Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team office, Queens, New York.

FOREST HILLS, NY,  - John Darrell, 60, Jamaica, completing for NY Pioneers, beat out Michael Fortunato, 40, Greenwich, NY competing for the Adirondack TC by 1 point to take the men’s division of the 85h Sri Chinmoy Masters Games. This annual track and field competition drew 200 athletes age 40 and over to victory Field, Forest Park, despite the heat wave that dominated the area.

The annual games are one of the only competitive venues in Queens for master’s athletes interested in sprints and short distance races; men and women compete by 5-year age categories. The day’s races included 100, 200, 400, 800, 3,000 (women) and 5,000 (men) meter events. There is also a one-mile race walk and a one-mile run.

Photo: Adarini. Rose Ruston, Sylvia Swartz and Pearl Auerbach - 'The Auerbach Sisters' - each took first place in their age group for the discus, at the Sri Chinmoy Masters Games 1993, held at Victory Field, Queens, NY.

John Darrell had twice in recent years come within a few points of earning the overall trophy and was determined to take it home at last. Having just turned 60, he had the advantage over many of his slightly older competitors in his new age category and took first in the 100, 200, and 400 meter and in the one mile run.

The women’s winner was Ranjana Ghose, 42, of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team,. Jamaica – by a mere three points over Lorraine Tucker, 46, of Hartsdale. This was Ranjana’s second attempt at this trophy. Ms. Ghose, a life-long athlete, has also won, 22 times, the women’s division of the SCMT’s annual international team-member only Sports Day, held in August.

Chris McKenzie, 61 (Great Neck, NY) – in her youth the world record holder in the 800 meters – had sat out the last two years of these games, recovering from arthroscopic surgery for her knees. Finally, when doctors told her there would be no more running in her life, she switched to the field events and courageously returned to competition, taking firs place in her age group for the shot-put (6.13 meters), discus (15.43 meters) and javelin (12.73 meters).

Claiming gold medals in all their age group events were the popular Auerbach sisters: Pearl Auerbach, 71, and rose Ruston, 77, of Jackson Heights and Sylvia Swartz, 81, of Forest Hills, The good-natured sisters – always ready to crack a joke – returned to athletics about five years ago. They were just back from picking up numerous medals at the National Senior Olympics and said the 120 degree heat down in Louisiana made Forest Hills seem pleasant!

The Sri Chinmoy Masters Games began in 1986 as a way to meet the growing interest in physical fitness by all ages of Americans. Light refreshments and food were served throughout the day, and, participants registered on site for any or all of the events, which include sprints, short distance races, high jump, long jump, javelin, discus and shot-put.