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Kathryn Martin Dominates on the Track at the 2008 USATF National Masters Meet

By Ed Bagley

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 23Aug2008 Word count: 802 Viewed: 497 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

The shining star in the prime running events at the 2008 USATF National Masters Meet in Spokane (WA) was Kathryn (Kathy) Martin, who won 5 national titles in the 800, 1500, 5000 and 10,000-meter races, and set an American record in the 2000-meter steeplechase. The 56-year-old from Northport (NY) was virtually unstoppable in the 55-59 age-group competition.

The United States Track & Field-sanctioned meet was held Aug. 7-10 at the Spokane Falls Community College track, one of the finest—if not the finest—dedicated track venues among community colleges in the nation. Most tracks are built around a more popular sporting venue, such as football. At Spokane Falls Community College it is clear that track and field competition is a prime concern.

Kathy Martin won the 5 titles in 4 days battling 90-degree-plus temperatures at Spokane's 2,000-plus-foot elevation with dry heat and no humidity.

Her closest race was the 800 which she won in 2:38.56 with runner-up Coreen Steinbach of Pompey (NY) less than a second behind. Martin's biggest margin of victory came in the 5000, which she won in 19:09.20, nearly 2 minutes ahead of her nearest competitor.

Martin's two signature races—the 1500 and 10,000—left little doubt about who was in charge on the track. She won the 10,000 in 41:13.60, slower than her American age-group record of 39:37.78 set last year. She also holds the current national record of 37:12.23 set in 2004 in the 50-54 age-group.

Martin, who resembles a very fast perpetual motion machine, ran away from her competition in the 1500, winning in 5:13.49 by more than 12+ seconds and with a time less than a second slower than her current American record of 5:12.62 set last year. She also holds the current national record of 4:52.55 set in 2002 in the 50-54 age-group.

The icing on her 5-layer cake came in her apparent first-time try at the 2000-meter steeplechase as she set a national record in 8:23.20, demolishing Marie Michelsohn's 7-year-old mark of 8:37.7 set in 2001. Kathy Martin is an inspiring running machine who continues to rank as one of America's top middle-distance runners in masters competition.

Three other competitors, including two American-record holders, were double winners in the prime running events at the meet.

Stephen Robbins of Seattle won the 65-69 age-group 100 in 12.56 and set a new American record in the 200 in 25.36, breaking Paul Johnson's mark of 25.76 set in 2001. Robbins set the current 100 American record (pending) of 12.37 earlier in August.

Nolan Shaheed of Pasadena, CA (55-59) won the 1500 in 4:44.38 and the 5000 in 17:00.60. Shaheed holds the same age-group American record of 4:20.76 set in 2004. Nolan Shaheed also holds the world masters record of 4:27.9 in the mile for the 50-54 age-group, which he set in 2000.

Don Coffman of Stamping Ground, KY (65-69) was the third double-winner, taking the 5000 in 19:10.26 and the 10,000 in 39:16.00, a full 6+ minutes faster than his nearest competitor.

Other notable age-group performances included:

Aaron Thigpen of Brentwood, CA (40-44) with a 11.00 in the 100. Renee Henderson of Merchantville, NJ (40-44) with a 12.31 in the 100. Lonnie Hooker of Upper Marlboro, MD (45-49) with a 22.58 in the 200. Jai Black of San Diego, CA (45-49) with a 1:02.15 in the 400. Courtney Muhammad of Mesa, AZ (45-49) with a 51.41 in the 400. Neil Fitzgerald of New York, NY (40-44) with a 1:59.51 in the 800.

James Morton of Springfield, MA (50-54) with a 2:04.89 in the 800. Lisa Valle of Albuquerque, NM (40-44) with a 2:20.35 in the 800. Jim Selby of Fallbrook, CA (80-84) with a 3:19.10 in the 800. Kevin Forde of Philadelphia, PA (40-44) with a 4:10.78 in the 1500. Christine Olen of Boise, ID (40-44) with a 4:53.50 in the 1500. Mike Stickley of Winchester, VA (45-49) with a 16:10.70 in the 5000. Susan Empey of Mercer Island, WA (40-44) with an 18:17.47 in the 5000.

Richard Becker of Selah, WA (50-54) with a 34:22.94 in the 10,000. Alyssa Tower of Vancouver, WA (45-49) with a 38:21.83 in the 10,000. Karen Steen of Olympia, WA (40-44) with a 7:24.59 in the 2000 steeplechase. Ronald Pate of Honolulu, HI (60-64) with an 8:44.84 in the 2000 steeplechase. Essie Faria of Miami, FL (70-74) with a 14:37.24 in the 2000 steeplechase. Kevin Stover of York, PA (40-44) with a 10:45.96 in the 3000 steeplechase.

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