Burke tops Mathews in hammer throw

Three-time Olympian Ed Burke and former USATF Masters Committee Chair George Mathews of Hayden Lake staged a battle royale in the men’s age 65 hammer throw at the 2008 USA Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Spokane Falls Community College.

Burke held off Mathews, who had won three straight U.S. Masters hammer throw titles, with a throw of 174 feet. Mathews best toss was 166 feet, 1 inch.

“I was lucky to throw farther than George, who is a wonderful competitor,” Burke said. “When they call your name, your heart jumps in your throat just like you’re at the Olympic Games. This is a lot of fun.”

Joy Upshaw-Margerum and Franklin “Bud” Held each set a record.

Upshaw-Margerum, of Los Altos Hills, Calif., set a new American long jump standard in the women’s 45-49 age group. She leaped 17 feet, 7 1/2 inches – a little more than three feet better than runner-up Caryl Senn-Griffiths (Massapequa Park, N.Y.)

Upshaw-Margerum is the sister of 2008 Team USA Olympic Games long jumper Grace Upshaw.

Held, who set an M80 masters world record in the pole vault on Thursday and hails from Del Mar, Calif., notched an American record in the hammer with a toss of 112 feet.

Spokane’s Ryan Weidman won the M35 javelin with a throw of 222-01.

Bob Ward of Dallas set an American mark in the men’s M75 hammer throw at 150 feet.

Allison Cowdell of Tustin, Calif., equaled the American record in the women’s 35 javelin throw with a toss of 131-7.

Renee Henderson of Merchantville, N.J., set an American mark in the W40 100-meter dash at 12.31 seconds.

Houston’s Bill Collins clocked an 11.90 to win the M55 100-meter title. He won the 400 on Friday and will go after the 200 title today.

World record holder Val Barnwell won the M50 100 in 11.38.

Mary Thane of Missoula won the W45 800 in 2:25.81, and Kathy Martin won the W55 10,000 in 41:13.60 and the 800 in 2:38.56.