National Masters Track Kicks Off Today At Sfcc
Four years ago, when Spokane last hosted the U.S. National Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Don Kardong planned to run both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter.
When the Games begin this morning, less than two weeks removed from the Centennial Olympiad, the 47-year-old Kardong, a 1976 Olympic marathoner, will make good on his threat.
“I’ve never done a U.S. Masters,” Kardong said. “I’ve done the World Masters twice.”
The four-day 1996 Masters at Spokane Falls Community College begins at 8 a.m. with the running of the women’s 5,000, featuring local standout Kim Jones. Men’s flights follow at 10:30 and Kardong said he will run.
Kardong’s first World Masters was in Eugene, Oregon after he had turned 40. The other was two years later in Finland. It was in Eugene that Kardong said he witnessed the greatest race ever.
“It was the age 90 and over 200 meters. Only two guys were in it. In a way I’m amazed they got two.”
The pair ran stride for stride, Kardong recalled, until one out-leaned the other at the tape. But they didn’t stop at the finish.
“When one was asked why he kept going, he answered that he knew it was a 200 but the other guy kept going so he kept going too,” said Kardong.
More than 1,000 men and women’s athletes are entered in the competition. Some, like Kardong, are former Olympians and college athletes. Others are late-bloomers.
They include age group American record holders like 50-year-old sprinter Stan Whitley of Alta Loma, Calif., and 47-year-old pole vaulter Jerry Cash of Beaverton, Ore., who is the American record holder in his age group and has cleared an impressive 15-feet-9.
A prospective record setter is 32-year-old women’s pole vaulter Pamela Reynold, whose 10-feet 6-inch best is 2-1/2-feet higher than the current mark.
Entrants have signed up from as far away as South Africa and Hong Kong.
“Masters meets are much more collegial than the Olympics,” said Kardong of his past experiences. “People compete intensely no matter the age but they don’t stew about it too much.”
The other thing about a Masters meet, Kardong added, “is that basically you pull a hamstring at some point.
“You’re never ready to go at this age. For me it’s just fun to get back in that atmosphere and see what I can do.”
The National Masters will offer everything from 100 meters to the 20 kilometer road walk, for men and women, ages 30 and beyond.
Thursday’s other finals include the women’s javelin and shot put and the men’s and women’s pentathlon.
There will be 16 finals on Friday, beginning at 7:30 a.m., 17 on Saturday beginning at 7 and 21 on Sunday, beginning at 7:30. Admission to the meet is $3 per day or $10 for all sessions.
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