If M100 Orville Rogers was the media star of Spokane, look for M90 William Platts to be the recordman at Seattle this weekend. He’s entered in the throws pentathlon at the USATF National Masters Throws Championships (strangely absent from the USATF nationals calendar.) His fan Suzy Hess Wojcik, a W75 Eugene thrower and former National Masters News publisher, called Bill: “Number 1 in the world in 5 events and 2 World ranking in another event.” In any case, USATF master mediafolks have issued a nice preview of the meet at West Seattle Stadium directed by George Mathews, a former masters national chair:
90 year-old William Platts, oldest competitor, may break American age records
(Seattle, WA) — Seattle will host 71 of the world and country’s top “throwers” from 30 to 90 at the USA Track & Field National Masters Throws Championship Saturday-Sunday, August 4-5. The event will be at West Seattle Stadium, 4432 35th Avenue, SW, 8AM to 6PM Saturday and 8-5 Sunday. World champions, world and national record holders will compete national age group championships. World and American records are likely.
The event spotlights the mission of masters track and field: lifetime fitness, health, and quality of life through training and competition.
Oldest competitor is William Platts, M90, Boise ID in the Throws Pentathlon, a national champion likely to set records in the 90-94 age group.
Many Seattle area athletes are competing. Media are welcome for photos and interviews.
Competitions will be in three blocks of events: the Throws Pentathlon, with the shot put, discus, hammer, javelin, and weight throw; the Superweight; and the Ultraweight Pentathlon. Men and women use implements varying weight by ten-year age. It is a very exciting competition.
Other potential stars include:
• Eric Cole, M48;Flower Mound TX; All Three Events; American Indoor Record 11.38 m
(37’4″);. American Record -Ultra Weight Pentathlon 5049; American Record – Indoor Super Weight 11.38m; #1 in World – Weight 15.90m; 2017 Outdoor Champion; 2017 Indoor Champion;
• Carol Finsrud, W61;Lockhart TX; All Three Events;World Outdoor Throws Pentathlon Record 4727;Hall of Fame 2007; World Record – Discus 40.76m; World Record – Outdoor Throws Pentathlon 4727; American Record – Throws Pentathlon 5060; 2017 Outdoor Champion;2018 Indoor Champion;2018 Outdoor Champion
• Gloria Krug, W87;New Oxford PA; All Three Events; American Indoor Record 5.39 m
(17’8″);American Indoor Record 6.28 m (20’7″); Masters Hall of Fame. Indoor World Champion in Long Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put, Disc, Hammer, Javelin, Weight; American Records – Indoor Long Jump 1.51m Triple Jump 3.15m; American Records – Indoor Shot Put 6.81m, Super Weight 5.39m, Weight 8.10m;Athlete of the year:
• Oneithea Lewis, W58;Oakland Gardens NY; All Three Events; American Indoor Record 10.79 m
(35’4″);American Indoor Record 10.59 m (34’9″);World Outdoor Throws Pentathlon Record 4841;Hall of Fame; American Records – Indoor Weight 15.22, Outdoor Weight 15.88, Outdoor Superweight 11.04; American Record – Ultraweight Pentathlon 5221; #1 in World – Super Weight Indoor 11.10m Outdoor 11.04m; 2017 Outdoor Champion;2017 Indoor Champion;2018 Indoor Champion; 2018 Outdoor Champion;
• Joanne Marriott, W79;Arvada CO;All Three Events;American Indoor Record 7.72 m
(25’4″);American Indoor Record 8.18 m (26’10”); #1 in World – Super Weight Indoor 7.50 Outdoor 7.99; #1 in World – Ultraweight Pentathlon 3866; National Champion Ultraweight Pentathlon; 2017 Outdoor Champion;2017 Indoor ChampionSeattle area athletes include:
• Connie Ballard, W61;Lynnwood WA;Throws Pentathlon
• Erica Boivin, W59;Mukilteo WA;All Three Events
• Frank Zitnik III, M60;Lynnwood WA;Throws Pentathlon
• George Mathews, M75;Edmonds WA; Superweight; Ultraweight Pentathlon; American Indoor Record 10.51 m; American Indoor Record 10.60 m;;2017 Outdoor Champion; Indoor world Record weight throw since 2009. Also Meet Director
• Larry Wymer, M57;Seattle WA;Throws Pentathlon
• Tim Shannon, M55;Seattle WA;All Three EventsSchedule: http://pacificnorthwest.usatf.org/Events/2018/2018-National-Masters-Throws-Championships.aspx#Schedule
Athletes by first name, with cities, events, awards, records: http://weinerpublic.com/20180801.doc
Source: Robert Weiner Associates, USATF Masters Communications Committee
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Unfortunately Bill was not able to attend the throws meet. He suffered a bad cold after Spokane Nationals and had to sacrifice his airfare. He stated he was really sorry to have missed this meet.