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 USA Athletics-sanctioned meet was held on August 2. 7-10 on the track at Spokane Falls Community College, one of the best, if not the best, dedicated track venues among community colleges in the nation. Most of the tracks are built around a more popular sports venue, such as soccer. At Spokane Falls Community College, it is clear that athletic competition is a primary concern.
Kathy Martin won all 5 titles in 4 days battling 90+ degree temperatures at Spokane’s 2,000+ foot elevation in dry heat with no humidity.
His closest race was the 800 which he 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 he won in 19:09.20, almost 2 minutes ahead of his closest competitor.
Martin’s two landmark races, the 1500 and the 10,000, left little doubt as to who was in charge on the track. He won the 10,000 in 41:13.60, slower than his American age-group record of 39:37.78 set last year. He also holds the current national record of 37:12.23 set in 2004 in the 50-54 age group.
Resembling a very fast perpetual motion machine, Martin ran away from his competition in the 1500, winning in 5:13.49 by over 12 seconds and running a time less than a second slower than his current American record of 5 : 12.62 set last year. He 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 on her apparent first attempt at the 2000-meter steeplechase when she set a national record in 8:23.20, demolishing 7-year-old Marie Michelsohn’s 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 main race events in the competition.
Seattle’s Stephen Robbins 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 American record 100 (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 American age group 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 5,000 in 19:10.26 and the 10,000 in 39:16.00, more than 6 full minutes faster than his closest competitor.
Other notable age group performances included:
Aaron Thigpen of Brentwood, CA (40-44) with 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 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 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) in 2:04.89 in the 800.
Lisa Valle from 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) in 4:10.78 in the 1500.
Christine Olen from Boise, ID (40-44) with a 4:53.50 in 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 18:17.47 in the 5000.
Richard Becker of Selah, WA (50-54) in 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 time of 7:24.59 in the 2000 steeplechase.
Ronald Pate of Honolulu, HI (60-64) with a time of 8:44.84 in the 2000 steeplechase.
Essie Faria from Miami, FL (70-74) with a time of 14:37.24 in the 2000 steeplechase.
Kevin Stover of York, PA (40-44) with a time of 10:45.96 in the 3000 steeplechase.
Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley
