Last March at Chicago indoor masters nationals, new 60-year-old Neringa Jakstiene set world records in the pentathlon, high jump and 60-meter hurdles. What to do for an encore at Sacramento masters outdoor nationals?

On Thursday, Day 1 of the meet at Sacramento’s American River College, she set a W60 world record in the outdoor pentathlon — and took down long-standing American records by Phil Raschker in the 80-meter hurdles and long jump. Also: crushing Christiane Schmalbruch’s 4.75 (15-7) world record in the long jump.

Neringa’s series on a day in the 90s: 13.00 in the 80-meter hurdles, 9.13 meters (29-11½) in the shot put, 1.46 (4-9½) in the high jump, 4.89 (16-0½) in the long jump and 2:49.49 in the 800 — worth a total of 4921 points.

Click for selected images of Day 1 at masters nationals.

The previous WR: 4391 points by Spain’s Maria Rosa Escribano Checa in 2019: 13.98, 1.36, 9.82 4.48 and 2:58.86.

The previous American records: Phil’s 4.73 long jump and 13.26 hurdles, both in 2007.

Neringa, who plans to compete at Sweden worlds, came close to Jane Horder’s 12.90 world record in the hurdles — which still might fall this weekend, when she faces Joy Upshaw in the individual event.

Not to be overlooked: Flo Meiler, in joining the W90 club, became the oldest female pentathlete in history with her 2218 points in the outdoor pent. World Masters Athletics lists no older record-holder than Flo herself in the W85 age group. Flo’s historic marks: 34.55 hurdles, .86m (2-9¾) high jump, 5.14 (16-10½) shot, 1.71 (5-7½) long jump and 6:57.83 in the 800.

How hot was it?

Officials at sprint races had to hose down the start of the race because the track was burning fingers and knees. (At least one woman’s race was delayed to water the track.)

But the temps were too much for one male pentathlete, who a medic said went into cardiac arrest at the long jump and was taken to a local hospital. The last report said he was in the ICU.

Luck was with Rick Lapp, however. In the M75 pentathlon, he was the youngest entrant. How young? He turned 75 on Thursday, the first day of the meet. Had his mom’s labor gone a few more hours and Rick pop out a day later, he’d be in the M70 age group the whole meet.

I took some nice shots of the older men’s shot put and the 4×800 relays, where a Boulder Road Runners team including Olympic Trials 800 masters exhibition champion Chris McDonald annihilated the M55 club American record of 10:14.17 with their 9:19.55. (The WR is 8:46.03.)

And Ken Stone of La Mesa, California, took a sizable chunk out of his M70 season best in the 100, clocking 19.26 a month after cracking 20 with a 19.98 at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. Beating Ken (in Lane 6 next to his Lane 5) was M70 world record man Damien Leake with a tidy time (0.9 mps legal wind) of 12.85. Later that night, his Southern California Striders teammates honored him at a dinner.

More fun to come Friday. And more heat, too. Stay hydrated, guys.

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