Team USA shines at the 2024 World Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden

A team of more than 500 USATF Masters athletes finished the 25th World Masters Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, with a spectacular performance that demonstrated the great talent and dedication of its members. In total, Team USATF won 247 medals – including 110 gold, 73 silver and 64 bronze – and broke five world records and 25 American records, putting them at the top of the medal table.

One of the biggest highlights of the 11-day competition was perhaps Neringa Jakstienes Dominance in multiple events. On the second day of competition, Jakstiene cleared 1.48m in the heptathlon women’s high jump, setting the W60 high jump world record and a championship record in that event. Her clearance earned her 1145 points – a huge help on her way to victory in the W60 heptathlon. Just four days later, she entered the record books again – this time in the W60 triple jump. Jakstiene’s American record jump of 9.99m missed the 10m mark by just one centimeter to take the win in that event. In the W60 80m hurdles, she set a third American record and another championship record. Jakstiene clocked a time of 12.94 to win by over half a second ahead of Germany’s Olga Becker.

Myrle Mensey was another big winner for Team USA in Gothenburg, as she improved two American records in the W75 division. En route to winning the pentathlon, Mensey set an American record in the shot put with her throw of 9.57m, earning 835 points for her total score of 4079. Along the way, she set championship records of 40.16m in the hammer throw and 15.90m in the weight throw. Her total score of 4079 earned her the American record in the W75 division.

Jeannie Rice showed one of the most impressive winning streaks of any athlete in Gothenburg with her six gold medals in Sweden. She never seemed to tire as she won the W75 races 800, 1500, 5000, 6 km (cross country), 10 km (road race) and the half marathon.

Olympic participant 1996 Michelle Rohl showed her talent in all disciplines with wins in two race walks and two races on the track – an unprecedented feat for any athlete. Rohl won the W55 5000m race walk on the track and the 10k race walk on the road and was able to adapt her focus and technique to win both the 1500m and 5000m races.

On the men’s side Brian Tullis put in an outstanding performance in the M50 800. Tullis clocked an incredible 1:57.98, breaking the championship record and the world record. He won in a dominant performance ahead of Spaniard Antonio Franco Raimondez. With his win, Tullis became the first in his division to run under 1:58 in the 800.

In the M50 400 hurdles, Ian weak With a time of 54.91 seconds, he broke the existing world record. His time was almost three seconds faster than the field of competitors.

The fourth day of competition, August 17, was relay record day. Team USA had strong performances in all age groups, with the highlight of the day being a major win and world record in the M55 4×100. Reggie Pendland, Arif Hussein, Lloyd HightowerAnd David Gibbon achieved a world and championship record of 45.07 and thus secured a clear victory over the field. Shortly afterwards, the M70 team followed suit with a world record of 51.12 and won against Japan. Thomas Jones, Michael Kish, Steven Snow, And Ron Stevens With their performance they were almost three seconds ahead of the field.

In the 4×100, six American records were broken across all age groups. The M50 4×100 team set an American record of 44.38 to place second overall. Their time was better than the previous world record broken by Team Japan. Team USA took the lead with an American record and a win in the W40 class, clocking a quick 48.54 seconds to Britain’s 49.52 seconds. An impressive W55 team set a championship record and American record of 53.21 – a stunning victory over their nearest competitor, Great Britain’s 57.20 seconds. The W60 team set an American record and championship record with their 55.78 effort, again winning by a wide margin. Shortly after, a W65 quartet took a win in their age group and an American record with a 1:02.76 seconds. Team USA improved another American 4×100 record in the W70 class, finishing fourth with a time of 1:06.99 seconds.

Easter Scholarship And Christina Trucks took first and second place in the W40 200. Grant was the only woman in her division to run under 25 seconds, setting an American record of 24.65, closely followed by Trucks at 25.07. Trucks had her own golden moment in the W40 400, when she beat the American record with her performance of 56.61.

Kay Glynn And Christel Donley made their presence felt in the heptathlon, setting American records with their performances. Glynn scored 4215 points and finished third in the W70 division, while Donley improved the American record in the W85 division with a total of 1647 points.

W90 runner Lynne Hurrell improved the American record in the 800-meter dash with a time of 5:16.16. Her time was also good for a championship record, beating her opponent by over two minutes. She went on to set a second American record and championship record in the W90 400-meter dash with a time of 2:26.00.

In the M70 300 hurdles, Ron Stevens achieved an American record of 49.82 seconds and took silver. He was surpassed by Briton Ian Broadhurst with 47.99 seconds.

Francois Boda put in an impressive performance in Gothenburg, winning the 100-200 double and taking silver in the 4×100 in the M60 division. In the M70 division, Team USA won both the 100 and 200.

At the end of the competition, three final American records were broken in the 4×400 meters. A W35 team achieved its age group record of 3:51.54 and won by four seconds ahead of Germany. The W60 quartet achieved victory and the American record in their class with 4:42.06, and a W65 team reached the top spot on the podium with 5:02.25, securing the championship title and the American record.

The U.S. team put in a phenomenal performance at the 2024 World Masters Athletics Championships, which will benefit the team as they prepare for the 2025 World Masters Indoor Championships, March 23-30, 2025, in Alachua County, Florida.

The full results of the event can be found here.