USATF Masters Outdoor Championships

Through the efforts of David Pain, masters track and field and its first Outdoor Track and Field Championship began in 1968.[4] The first competition was held July 19–21, 1968 in San Diego. The 1968 meet included competitions for men age 40 and older. The meet has continued annually since, with the exception of 2020 which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] The 1968 meet, and for several years after, included programs providing time schedules, and athletes names and ages.[6] 1968 represented the first time a major masters track and field competition was held. The meet was sponsored by the San Diego Recreation Department, San Diego Track and Field Association, and the Los Angeles Seniors Track Club.[7]

The 1971 meet (and future meets) added women as part of the competition.[8] The 2019 meet included a complete set of individual running (sprints, middle distance, and long distance), hurdles, steeplechase, race walk, jumps (high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump) and throwing events (shot put, discus, hammer, and javelin), as well as team relays.[9]

The USA National Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championship has included many prominent feats within the sport of masters track and field. At the 1968 meet, James Gorrell ran one of the fastest miles ever run by an athlete over age 40.[10] At the 1970 meet, Richard Stolpe broke the 220 yard masters record in 23.3, Jack Razzetto the high jump record, and Sandy Patterson the hammer throw record.[11] More recently, distance runner Nolan Shaheed and sprinter Irene Obera have been multi-time masters national champions.

In August 1988 a major milestone was achieved when Philipa Raschker was the first female to pole vault at a major USA track and field championship for any age category. She vaulted 2.45 (8'-0 1/2") at age 40.[12][13]

The 1988 meet added a special event the “Legends Miles” (M40) that included Ron Bell (Britain), Byron Dyce (Jamaican Olympian), Harry Nolan, John Dixon (New Zealand), Ken Sparks, Al Swenson, Web Loudat, Steve Ferraz, and Ron Jensen. Bell setting a new M40 World Record while winning in 4:12.58. [14] [15]

Frank Struna has had much success at the competition, winning eight national championships (six triple jump and two long jump), and setting a then current M55 indoor triple jump record.[16]

The 2009 meet included several masters records by Leland McPhie (M95), Karen Steen (W45), Sabre Harvey (W60), Becky Sisley (W70) and Florence Meiler (W70).[17]

At the July 2010 meet Ralph Maxwell was the first American age 90 plus to complete the sprint hurdle race. Ralph was rewarded with a gold medal and a masters M90 world record in a time of 21.47.[18][19]

The 2014 meet included three separate M90 plus masters relay records. Each record included a foursome all age 90 and older. Champion Goldy Sr (97), Orville Rogers (96), Roy Englert (92), Charles Ross (91), and Charles Boyle (91) shared the workload, medals, and records.[20]

USATF offered funds to top ranked American masters athletes to support travel to the competition in 2019.[21]

A full history of past results of the competition is held by Mastershistory.org,[22] while a full list of organizer bids for the event is held at the USATF website.[23]

The competition has often received national coverage focused on the oldest participants. 2018 medal winner, Orville Rogers (age 100) and his family were interviewed by The Washington Post, Fox News, ESPN, and CBS during the 2018 season.[55] The Washington Post also reported on the 2017 event, where at age 101 Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins became the oldest female to compete at the Masters National Outdoor Championship, setting a masters W100 meet record.[56]

Organizers of open class events have responded positively to the event, such as in 2009 Bob Weiner (USATF Masters Media Chair) stating "the event ran smoothly [and] was a spectacularly executed meet".[57]

The Honolulu Advertiser provided coverage of Harold Chapson's performance, who having had polio at age 5 became the 1976 Masters National Champion.[58] [59]

• Source for Meet Dates and Locations confirmed: *=[118]

• USA Masters Track and Field Hall of Fame
• List of masters athletes

• Book: Masters Track and Field: A History by Leonard T Olson
• Age is no barrier. 2011. Bryan Thomas. ISBN 978-0-9803191-1-8

• USATF Masters website
• World Masters Athletics (WMA)
• Masters Championship results
• List of USA Masters Track and Field Records
• Masters Newsletters, Magazines and Bulletins
• USMITT Newsletter