Olympian Hart sets world record at U.S. nationals

Larry Hart, a 1976 Olympian from Los Angeles, set a world record for the men’s age 70-74 division in the weight throw, highlighting a Friday session during which seven American records fell on the first day of U.S. Track and Field Masters Indoor Championships at Albuquerque Convention Center.

It was the first day of the threeday meet. More than 600 athletes from ages 30 to 99 are competing. The meet concludes Sunday.

Hart broke the previous men’s age 70 (M70) record with a throw of 21.08 meters/69 feet, 2 inches. During his performance Friday, he beat former rival Ed Burke’s world mark in the weight throw.

Hart has been among the best weight throwers in the U.S. for the past five years, but this was his first appearance at a national championship.

Also, Gloria Krug (New Oxford, Pa.) set two American records in the women’s 85-89 long jump and shot put. Krug, 85, threw 6.72 meters/22-0¾ and jumped 1.51m/411½ in her impressive display of athleticism.

Krug’s records marked her third and fourth career in American indoor; she also boasts 10 American

outdoor records.

Even though she set the American records, Krug said, “Jumping is not my thing. I do it to keep my knees active so I can throw. … I feel good.”

In the 400 meters, two American records were broken across men’s and women’s groups. Bob Lida (Wichita, Kan.) crushed the M80 division in 1:13.34. Lorraine Jasper (Birchrunville, Pa.) broke the W55 American record in 1:06.79.

Former Masters of the Year honoree Kathy Martin (Northport, N.Y.) celebrated moving to a new age group by not only winning the women’s 65 3,000 meters, but also setting a new American record of 11 minutes, 53.32 seconds.

Martin battled on the track against W55 winner Mary Swan and runner-up Laura Bruess for the overall lead. Martin began at the front, maintaining her dominance for most of the 15-lap run.

Swan and Bruess made a pass toward the end, finishing just ahead of Martin in 11:49.67 and 11:52.18, respectively.

Also of note, the meet’s oldest competitor, Orville