Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Minnesotans Win 24 Medals at USATF Masters Championships

By Tom Langenfeld
Minnesotans claimed 24 medals and one world record at the USATF National Masters Championships August 2-5 on the campus of Benedictine University in Lisle, IL.

Sherwood Sagedahl (M73) of Fairmont bettered the listed world age-group record in the M70 pentathlon with a score of 3,806 points – the highest pentathlon score in any age group in this year’s national competition. Competing in temperatures in the mid-90s on opening day, Sagedahl topped the existing record of 3,755 set by Germany's Gerhard Tillmann in 2009 with consistently strong performances in all five events. He nailed down the record with a time of 5:45.96 in the 1500m, a performance worth 918 points. Sagedahl’s other performances: long jump (3.85m, 661 points); javelin (35.83m/117'6", 741); 200m (30.37, 776) and discus (33.43m/109'8", 720).

Sagedahl continued his display of versatility in individual events over the next three days of competition with gold medal performances in the 1500m (5:46.77) and javelin (35.57m) and second-place finishes in the 800m (2:42.86) and 400m (67.1). He also finished sixth in the 100m (14.80).

Fifteen of Minnesota’s medals were gold. Eight of them won by 92-year-old Ralph Maxwell, a warm-weather resident of Richville, MN. He captured the 100m (19.86), 200m (44.25), high jump (1.02m/3'4"), long jump (2.73m/8'11.5"), triple jump (5.82m/19'1"), shot put (6.74m/22'1.25"), discus (15.95m/52'4"), and javelin (15.21m/49' 10.75").

Other individual golds were all in the vertical jumps: Kevin Gross (M42), Eden Prairie, M40 high jump (1.80m/5'10.75"); Stephen White (M41), Maple Grove, M40 pole vault (4.40m/14'5"); Tom Langenfeld (M77), Edina, M75 high jump (1.38m/4'6.25"); David Lindenberg (M33), Minneapolis, submasters M30 pole vault (4.55m/14'11").

Kathy Haubrich (W53), Shakopee, was a member of two Athena Track Club relay teams that set new American W50-59 records: 4x800 (10:45.23) and 4x400 (4:40.38).

Other individual medal winners:
Jamie Steffen (M34), Burnsville, second in the submasters M30 pole vault (3.80m/12' 5.5").
John Buursema (M85), West St. Paul, second in both the M85 100m (20.05) and 200m (45.00).
Lance Elliott (M41), Edina, third in the M40 1500m (4:10.68) and fourth in the 800 (2:0l.30).
Michael Burns (M69), Milan, third in the M65 100m hurdles (20.69) and fourth in the 300m hurdles (57.78); also 12th in the 200m and 14th in the 100m.
Peter Haack (M38), La Crescent, third in the M35 400m (52.67) and fourth in the 200m (23.86).
Thom Weddle (M73), Minneapolis, third in the M70 1500m (6:07.83).
Susan Loyd (W54), Edina, set a Minnesota W50 record in finishing fourth in the 100m (14.77). She also advanced to the finals in both the 200m and 400m, finishing fifth in each.

Other Minnesotans in action:
Rick Allen (M55), Richfield, fourth in the M55 high jump (1.55m/5'1") and fourth in the long jump (4.75m/15'7"); Robert Jones (M50), White Bear Lake, fourth in the M50 hammer (49.43m/162'2"), fourth in the weight throw (15.99m/52'5.5") and fifth in the discus (45.73m/150'.25"); James Moeller (M49), Eagan, fourth in the M45 pole vault (3.65m/11'11.5"); Jim Schoffman (M59) Fridley, sixth in the M55 400m (60.30 – 58.50 in prelims), 12th in the 200m, 14th in the 100m; Paul Montgomery (M66), Woodbury, seventh in the M60 200m (29.93—29.57 in prelims) and eighth in the 100m (13.97); Michael Soule (M60), Wyoming, seventh in the M60 pole vault (2.50m/8'2.25"); Brian Lundberg (M46), Edina, seventh in the M45 1500m (4:34.15); Martin Proops (M51), eighth in the M50 pole vault (3.05m/10'); Jeffrey Stamp (M52), Minnetonka, 11th in the M50 200m (26.78), 11th in the 400 (60.09); Chris Becker (M46), Woodbury, 16th in the M45200 (28.62).

The two-dozen Minnesota competitors were among more than 1,100 entrants in the four-day meet.

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