Maxwell, Robbins Set World Records: Masters
Ralph Maxwell and Stephen Robbins each set masters world records Sunday at the 2008 USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Spokane Falls Community College in Spokane, Wash.
The USA Masters Outdoor Championships annually showcases extraordinary demonstrations of speed, power, skill and endurance by many of the world’s finest masters track and field athletes. Athletes compete in five-year age divisions, beginning at age 30.
The first two days of the 2008 USA Masters Championships in Spokane were held under mostly sunny skies with temperatures in the low to mid 90s. The competition on Sunday was staged under cloudy skies with temperatures in the high 50s, to the low to mid 60s.
A resident of Alamo, Texas, 88-year old Ralph Maxwell won the M85 age division 300m hurdles in 1 minute, 21.44 seconds. His performance shattered the previous M85 world record of 1:27.09 set by Henri Maynard of France, on September 9, 1007.
Eleven-time world masters sprint champion Stephen Robbins, who moved from Seattle to Cleveland Heights, Ohio, a week ago, bettered the listed world M65 200m record in winning this afternoon in 25.36 seconds. Earlier this year he posted a pending world record time of 25.20 seconds, with both times bettering the listed W65 world record of 25.46 seconds by Guido Muller of Germany from July 17, 2005. Robbins set the listed M65 world record in the 100 meters of 12.37 seconds on August 2, 2008 in Eugene, Ore. “I relaxed and let the speed come out,” said Robbins after his 200m triumph.
For more information on the 2008 USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Spokane, Wash., including the complete results, visit: www.usatf.org.
