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About 300 athletes competed in 52nd annual Holiday meet. This was the
first track meet in the field house on the newly resurfaced track and
with the new configuration for the field events permitted by the
introduction of a raised pole vault runway. The new runway no longer
puts the vault in conflict with track events. Everyone involved liked
the new track and the new layout.
There were excellent performances by many men and women of all ages on
both the track and on the field. In addition, there were some
exceptionally close competitions.
On a national scale, the best marks came in women's field events.
Erin Gilreath (NYAC) attempted to better her American record in the 20
lb weight throw. While she did not quite reach that goal, she
shattered the meet and field house record with a throw of 22.70m (74'
5.75"). Sue DeNegris (We Also Walk Dogs) upped her meet and field
house record in the pole vault for the third consecutive year. Her
vault of 4.09m (13' 5.00") equals the 24th best indoor vault by an
American woman in 2004.
The youth athletes provided very strong early season performances
also. One of the outstanding youth performances was the 55m dash in
8.28 seconds by 8-year old Alexis Hyshaw (Zephyrs).
Masters athletes also turned in some fine performances. Dave Ashford
(Bannockburn TC), current World Masters champion and world record
holder (40-44) in the 110m hurdles, won the 55m hurdles (42") in 7.71
seconds. Paul Perry (UCTC), who placed 2nd at age 59 in his age group in the
1500m in the National Masters Championship last summer, showed that he
is ready to take on his new age group by running a mile in 5:06.68.
In the second section of the men's 55m dash final, there was a three-way
tie for second -- they could not be separated even at the .001 second. In
the men's triple jump, there was a tie for first which couldn't be
broken even after giving those two competitors an extra jump.
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