About the author:

Medur is our go-to person for many of the essential tasks involved in putting on our races: race setup, our lap counting system and our website. An enthusiastic runner himself, he has participated in many editions of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run in Canada and the US.

USA Masters Conclude

Meiler hurdled a world record to conclude USA Masters

08-08-2004

DECATUR - Flo Meiler hurdled her way to a world W70 record while more age group records tumbled in the 200m, javelin, hammer and relays Sunday to conclude the 37^th USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Millikin University's Frank M. Lindsay Field in Decatur, Illinois.

Meiler of Shelburne, Vt., ran 1:07.16 to win the 300m hurdles (27 inch). The 70-year-old bettered the previous record of 1:08.82 set by Isabel Hofmeyr. No stranger to record-breaking, Meiler on July 24, set a world W70 age group record after she ran 1:08.35 in the 300m hurdles (30 inch) at the Eastern Masters Championships in Springfield, Mass.

More records tumbled in the javelin throw finals as Mike Brown of Jacksonville, Fla., threw 64.86 meters/212 feet, 9 inches to set an M50 record. The 50-year-old bettered the previous record of 57.88m/189-11 set in 2000 by Richard Sander of Louisiana. Robert Kouvolo of Easley, S.C., also bettered the previous record to finish in second-place with his 60.06m/197-0 performance.

Buzz Gagne of Penacook, N.H., set an M55 record with his 54.39m/178-5 performance to win the javelin. The 57-year-old bettered the previous record of 54.16m/177-8 set in 2000 by Gary Reddaway of Oregon.

Audry Lary of Frederick, Md., continued her record setting ways in Decatur after she ran 33.90 to win the 200m W70 age group. The 70-year-old Lary bettered the 34.03 set in 1998 by Patricia Peterson of Albany, N.Y.

Roderick Parker of Amity, Ark., ran 34.41 seconds to set an M85 record and win the 200m finals. The 85-year-old Parker bettered the previous record of 37.40 set in 2000 by Frank Finger of Virginia.

Bob Ward of Dallas, Texas set a M70 record with his 53.11m/174-3 performance in the men's hammer throw (4K). The 71-year-old Ward improved his previous record of 51.69m/169-7.

Joy Upshaw-Margerum of Berkeley, Calif., came from behind to win the 200m W40 age group in a time of 26.49 seconds. The 43-year-old Upshaw-Margerum surged by runner-up Lesia Batiste of Baton Rouge, La., who finished in (W40-26.76). In the W45 division, Denise McField of St. Louis, Mo., ran 28.31 to win and barely edge Stephanie Vega of Houston, Texas who finished second in a time of 28.74.

Other 200m winners were Kelli Wensel (W30-27.88), Colleen Barney (W35-26.96), Karla Del Grande (W50-26.97), Brenda Matthews (W55-31.51), Nadine O'Connor (W60-29.69), Barbara Jordan (W65-34.68), Patricia Peterson (W75-39.73), Carol Peebles (W80-56.21) and Olga Kotelko (W85-55.81).

Jeff Culpepper of Houston, Texas came from behind with 30 meters left in the race to successfully defend his M30 200m title. The 31-year-old ran 21.79 seconds to barely edge runner-up Alex Acosta of Miami, Fla., (M30-22.17). In the M35 age group, All-American Robert J. Thomas Jr., won in 22.55 seconds and held off a late surge by Harold Lacey of Mansfield, Texas (M35-22.97) who finished second. Bill Collins of Houston, Texas pulled ahead of the pack with 20 meters left to win the M50 age group in a time of 23.73 seconds. The 53-year-old Collins had runner-up Oscar Peyton of Accokeek, Md., (M50-23.83) and third-place finisher Thomas Smith of Fort Wayne, Ind., (M50-23.89) on his heels after the turn.

Other men's 200m winners were Allen Tissenbaum (M40-22.48), James Chinn (M45-23.57), Charlie Allie (M55-24.52), Paul Edens (M60-24.98), Bob Lida (M65-26.33), Lloyd Williams (M70-28.20), Bill Melville (M75-31.39), Melvin Larsen (M80-32.18) and Max Springer (M90-47.81).

In the men's 300m hurdles the 2004 Champions were Courtland Gray (M60-43.50), Emil Pawlik (M65-51.15), James Stookey (M70-54.74), Chuck Sochor (M75-1:04.29) and Glenn Bradd (M80-1:25.45). The 300m hurdles winners were Tina Bowman (W50-55.47) and Barbara Jordan (W65-1:03.21).

The 400m hurdles (36 inch) winners were Brad Dittmar (M30-55.82), Chris Grant (M35-55.44), Jack Bradley Thomas (M40-59.94), Timothy McMahon (M45-1:01.63), Sergio Angulo (M50-1:09.16) and Rick Lapp (M55-1:03.79). The women's 400m hurdles (30 inch) winners were Justine Brummel (W30-1:06.38), Lisa Marie Render (W35-1:26.18), Linda Butler (W40-1:16.10) and Joanne Petkus (W45-1:34.69).

The 1,500m winners were Dianne Fitzpatrick (W35-5:03.99), Karen Steen (W40-4:42.59), Katherine Willis (W45-5:58.17), Kathy Martin (W50-5:02.94), Debbie Stiles (W55-6:49.41), Jeanne Daprano (W65-6:41.14), Jean Horne (W70-6:42.46), Lynette Lucess (W75-9:18.44) and Gerry Davidson (W80-10:46.68).

The winners in the men's 1,500m were Kyle Lanier (M30-4:19.42), Charlie Kern (M35-4:02.17), John Hinton (M40-4:03.44), Steve Gallegos (M45-4:10.50), Jim Robinson (M50-4:22.75), Nolan Shaheed (M55-4:37.97), James Boughter (M60-4:56.22), Sid Howard (M65-5:07.79), Charles Rose (M70-5:11.76), Jim Selby (M75-6:11.80), Daniel Bulkley (M85-9:32.60) and Max Springer (M90-10:12.30).

The men's shot put (7.26K) winners were Kunle Lawson (M30-14.08/46-2.50), Al Lechler (M35-14.89m/48-10.25), Steve P. Albert (M40-16.14m/52-11.50) and Warren Taylor (M45-14.88m/48-10.

The women's shot put (4K) winners were Patricia Wilkinson (W35-9.72m/31-10.75), Oneithea Lewis (W40-14.11m/46-3.50), Carol Finsrud (W45-12.84m/42-1.50). In the women's shot put (3K) the winners include Linda Rowe (W50-9.61m/31-6.50) and Mary Hartzler (W55-10.83m/35-6.50).

In the men's discus throw, the winners include Larry Pratt (M60-51.86m/170-2) and Richard Cochran (M65-52.76m/173-1).

The women's hammer throw (3K) winners were Georgia Cutler (W60-33.44m/109-8), Two-time Olympian JoAnn Grissom (25.04m/82-2), Amy Hicks (W70-20.41m/66-11.50), Bernice Holland (W75-18.72m/61-5) and Olga Kotelko (W85-16.67m/54-8.25). The men's hammer throw winners were Phillip Brusca (M75-28.40m/93-2), Hugh Hackett (M80-21.89m/71-10) and David Schlothauer (M85-21.10m/69-2.75).

Winners in the women's high jump were Trish Porter (W40-1.65m/5-5), Martha Mendenhall (W45-1.47m/4-9.75) and Kay Glynn (W50-1.37m/4-6) tied with Eleanor Gipson (W50-1.37m/4-6), Linda Douglass (W55-1.30m/4-3.25), Marg Radcliffe (W60-1.22m/4-0), Christel Donley (W65-1.17m/3-10), Flo Meiler (W70-0.97m/3-2.25) and Johnnye Valien (W75-0.92m/3-0.25).

The 10,000m race walk winners include Alberto Medina (M40-1:00:52.00), Mark Green (M45-48:27.00), Bill Reed (M50-55:55.00), Michael Wiggins (M55-51:35.00), Donald DeNoon (M60-54:57.00), Paul Johnson (M65-58:12.00), Jack Bray (M70-1:00:52.00) and Jack Starr (M75-1:07:29.00).

The winners in the 10,000m race walk were Marcia Gutsche-Rutledge (W40-53:58.00), Judy Myers (W45-1:00:36.00), Debbie Topham (W50-58:13.00), Kathy Frable (W55-1:03:26.00), Jolene Steigerwalt (W60-1:05:06.00), Claire Elkins (W70-1:26:06.00) and Kate Marrs (W75-1:13:49.00).

In relay action, the men's So Cal Track Team set a world 4x800m relay record in the M50-59 age group with their 8:41.55 performance bettering the 8:45.88 set by the Portland Master TC. The Fleet Feet Sacramento TC set a women's 4x800m relay record in the 40-49 age group with their 10:13.61 performance to better the 10:14.20.

The 4x100m relay winners were Southwest Region (M30-39, 43.17), Atlanta Track Club (M40-49, 43.98), Wisconsin Association (M50-59, 50.18), Dallas Masters (M60-69, 55.51), Midwest Masters TC (M70-79, 58.58). The women's 4x100m relay winners were the Indiana Intimidators Regional (W30-39, 53.21) and Western Region (W40-49, 1:15.85).

The 4x400m relay winners were Mid America Region (W30-39, 4:24.62) and Fleet Feet Sacramento (W40-49, 4:35.60). The men's 4x400m relay winners were Mid America Region (M30-39, 3:25.40), Mach II Sprint Club of America (M40-49, 3:48.63), Houston Elite (M50-59, 6:07.33) and Eastern Region (M60-69, 6:08.47).

The men's 4x800m relay winners were Fibo Track Club (M30-39, 8:26.42), SoCal Track Team (40-49, 8:30.93) and Eastern Region (M60-69, 12:24.97). The women's 4x800m relay winners were the Fleet Feet Sacramento TC (W30-39, 10:47.15).

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

Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team articles - more articles

About the author:

Vasudha Deming organizes events for the San Diego Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team.

Congratulations to all the runners and walkers who participated in the 6-Hour Race! You smiled and endured through a long, hot effort--and gave inspiration to hundreds of people along the way.

The race took place at the beautiful Miramar Reservoir, where athletes looped around the twisty 5-mile perimeter for the first 4.5 hours. For the final 90 minutes, the course switched to a 2-mile loop. At every step, the athletes were surrounded by nature's beauty: trees, shrubs, glistening water, ducks, bunnies, and more.

The overall winners in both the Men's and Women's divisions put up stunning results:

Debbie Gibson (60) not only won the 60/over category, but also took 1st place overall for the women. Averaging a pace under 9 minutes per mile, she completed 39 miles in 5h 48min.
Jose Herrera (26) handily defended his 2023 overall win by completing 48 miles in 5h 52min (transcending the 46 miles he accomplished last year).

While there were many additional excellent finish times, each and every participant no doubt experienced something more important than speed: the joy or sport and the thrill of self-transcendence!

Mark your calendars for Nov. 16, 2025! We'll see you there.

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The 26th Sri Chinmoy Ten Day Race April 17-27 2024
The 25th Sri Chinmoy Six Day Race April 21-27 2024

Both races utillized the loop course at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the second year of the former course measured at 0.747979 mile/1.203577km,. The course is mostly flat and very similar tomany of our previous running courses that had acquired several multiday race performances over the last 24 years, minus the two and a half years during the Covid pandemic.

The recovery of the Sri Chinmoy 10 Day Race, which started in 1996 , was a joy for the running world that discovered long distance events the last several years, both in the US, and in Europe as well.

The Ten Day garnered 18 men and 6 women taking quick use of the course and a semi-quiet park as the noon-time start on April 17.

The quickest runners would most likely run the course with their best days ahead of them. Multi-time winner Budjagal Byambaa from Mongolia led the fastest fellows along, but the fastest lady Annabel Hepworth was set to lead many runners .

The typical Spring weather patterns began as rain arrived about two or three hours into the event. Still, the runners continued on their assault for miles and kms. Just before the sun disappeared, the rain disappeared but the runners continued to test the course and their own forward movement. Budjargal lead throughout the first night, and by the first 24 total arrived, he reached 112.9 miles/ 181.7kms. Chia-Hung Wei from Tiawan came through with 109.9 miles/ 176.86kms. No surprise, as third overall was Annabel Hepworth, the Australian with 99.4 miles/ 159.97kms. Another surprise was Benjamin Torok from Hungary, who reached 94.9 miles / 152.74kms-moving well in his first ever 10 Day.

The runners always seem to develop a true concern for their own runner-friends, both new and formerly previously. We were so fortunate to have numerous helpers who worked the lap counting, making tasty food, and a solid group of men and women medical providers. Checking foot and ankle problems, and just getting through a long or overnight running test.

By the time of three complete days had passed, the 10 day runners kept their movement as steady and regular as possible. In a day later, 9 more runners would join the frey, so there was more solid efforts to fill the course.

The end of Day 4 showed Budjargal still in the front, and Andrea Marcato was solid in second place. Radu Budan from Moldova was solid in fourth place, and Annabel Hepworth was at 305.9 miles/ 492.298 km.

As the Six Day Race began for the 25th time, the leader Ashprihanal Aalto from Finland assumed the position as head of the group, reaching 108.45 miles/ 174.54km in the first day. Abhejali Bernadova from Check Republic led the ladies with 78 miles/ 123.98 km.

The Ten Day Race had more intense efforts that showed great movements from the top 10 or 11 runners. The air was pleasant, the rain stayed away, but runners did not stop. Budjargal threw down 84.5 miles on Day Five, and moved over 70 miles ahead of second for the men. Annabel Hepworth continued her powerful movement and placed fourth overall , and nearly 80 miles ahead of second lady Gesiane Nascimento of Brazil. Alex Ramsey from the US, and Benjamin Torok from Hungary was really putting up a real test to move into fifth or sixth place for the men. By the eighth and nine day efforts they were only a few miles apart. Each of the two men were really enjoying the test of finding more miles and more joy in becoming great distance runners.

The total of runners who reached 1000km+ became seven, as six men and the top lady showed us all they are in a great place. Budjargal made it to his best ever, reaching 817.5 miles/ 1315.6 km. He passed his previous best of 810 miles in 2018. Second place came to Andrea Marcato, the Italian who reached 743.4 miles/ 1196.3km. Third place reached the Taiwanese hero Chia-Hung Wei. It was another personal best for him as he reached 709 miles/ 1141 km. He surprised himself!

Fourth place overall was our top lady - Annibel Hepworth, 685.1 miles/ 1102.5 km. She reached a PB, a national W50.

Fifth place was Radu Budan, setting a PB with 646.2 miles/ 1039.9 km.

Fifth place for the men, sixth overall was Alex Ramsey. Another personal best of 623.8 miles/ 1003.9km. And finally, the Sixth mail and seventh member of the 1000km group was Benjamin Torok, who reached 623.0 miles/ 1002.6km.

There were also several other PB’s in the Ten Day. One of the most remarkable was the fourth place for the women- Tamara Babich

From Katachstan, who at age 73 reached 483.7 miles/ 776.7 km.

The Six Day Race also had excellent performances. Ashprihanal Aalto won overall with 436.1 miles/ 701km. Abhejali Bernardova reached 344.8 miles/ 554.8km. And last but not least- 86 year old Don Winkley from Texas, USA-m completed 148 miles/ 238.1 km, after five days (his plane was delayed a day by heavy storms in the South west.)

As always, thanks to all the runners for testing themselves in any way possible, and all the helpers keeping our multiday races continuing on the lists in the US as well as in Europe. Good Luck to all

Sahishnu

Photographs from