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Long Day for Some Short Races

By Larry Barnum

Marie-Lande-Mathieu

At the 2009 WMA Championships, depending on the size of the crowd for each age group, some only had to run a 100 meter final today, while others had twice as much work to do.

It may not be fair, or even close to accurate, but some sprinters have been notorious for not wanting to run the extra mile, well, even some 60m repeats.

But if you’ve taken time off, paid your way for your plane and lodging, then trekked all the way to Lahti, ya may wanna get your money’s worth. Some non-sprinters, and even some sprinters who may’ve chosen to see the results only on the internet, or were forced to stay home, have a hard time understanding or justifying the journey.

Marie Lande Mathieu Michell

Not all families understand a 14 hour plane trip, so you can run two or three times, partially up or down a track and never really complete the whole thing. And the total time of these heats may add up to less than a minute. Even getting overtime for Saturday and throwing in another heat, the miles per gallon don’t look good.

But for others, most of us in track and field, speed thrills. The 100 meters is the glamour event, nothing more basic than two or eight people racing each other to prove who’s fastest. And that they did.

In the final of the W80 100m, Austra Reinberga, of Latvia won in 19.77, ahead of multiple world and American record holders in a handful of other events, Sumi Onodora-Leonard (21.47, 3rd), and Johnnye Valien (22.91, 4th). Susie Alberta Barnes finished seventh in 25.67.

In W75, Margaret Peters, of New Zealand, many times over world champion and W70 WR holder in the 100 and 200, took the shorter sprint impressively in 16.46. She’s the third fastest on the all time W75 list, behind official World Record holder Paula Schneiderhan, of Germany, 15.91, who’s actually behind Australia’s Ann Cooper’s 2007 time of 15.78. (Gianna Mogentale’s inspiration).

In the W70 semi’s, Jeanne Daprano, W70 American record holder in everything from the 400m on up to the mile, placed third in her heat in 17.92 and advanced to the finals where she ran 17.92 again, getting seventh. Germany’s Christiane Schmalbruch won in 15.62, repeating as world champ and bettering her Riccione time of two years ago, yet still remains as number 4 on the all time list.

Karla-Del-Grande

W55 Karla Del Grande, (right) from Canada, but adopted by many at US Nationals, won in 13.34, the second fastest on the all time best list to Raschker's WR of 13.30. Rita Hanscom finished just out of the medals in 4th and 13.95.

Marie Lande Mathieu Michell, of Puerto Rico, continued to improve on her 100 time, winning the W50 final in 12.84, still second only to Raschker’s WR of 12.50.

In W45, Renee Henderson won the first semi heat in 12.29, with Angelika Grissmer of Germany, second in 12.50. Sarah Lawson in 13.39 failed to qualify. Joy Upshaw-Margerum had to pull out of the semi heat having hurt her foot. Australia’s Gianna Mogentale took the second heat in 12.69, setting up a three way showdown.

Photo courtesy of Ken Stone.

In the final, Renee got the gold in 12.22, but still gets the AR of 12.10 from the quarterfinals. Grissmer took the silver in 12.43 and Gianna, the bronze in 12.55. The trio become the 2nd, 5th and 8th best ever on the W45 100m list.

Possibly at the other end of the speed spectrum, is the thought of going all out, for a little bit longer than one can actually go all out, and having to jump over hurdles along the way. Sadistic. It’s a great race to watch, from the stands or the sidelines. Watching from one of the lanes while running, masochistic.

If W50 Jane Horder, of Great Britain, wanted to make a statement in her 300m hurdles semi-finals, she did, winning the first heat in 48.75. Her time was good enough for seventh on the All-Time W50 top ten, (right in front of Phil Raschker); if Jane wasn’t already number three, with a PB of 46.19. Christine Mueller, of Switzerland, (W50 WR holder in the event, in a smokin’ 45.05), easily won her heat in 51.58. It’ll be quite a final; Maria Jesus Sanguos of Spain, second behind Horder in a comfortable, for her, 56.97, was only the fifth fastest qualifier, but brings a PR of 49.26, eighth on the All-Time list.

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Karla Del Grande "from Canada, but adopted by many at US Nationals" Now that really warmed my heart! No wonder I love running relays with you American girls at your meets, when there aren't enough of us from Canada.
Finland ...

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