Sue Patterson-McDonald and Alison Wood were roommates at Torun worlds and are “high jump besties.” Sue has transitioned to the 800 of late, but in the USATF high jump records book, they’ll be side by side. On Saturday, Alison claimed the W45 American outdoor record in the high jump, clearing 1.64 meters (5-4 1/2) twice to win a jump-off at the West Coast Invitational at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. (See results here.) She beat Pacific Lutheran sophomore Lauren Wilson. Since Sue is the listed W50 AR lady in the HJ, she and Alison will be roomies on the records page, too.

Alison upped the listed record of 1.62 (5’3¾”) by Clare Look-Jaeger in September 2011, which I noted at the time.

On Facebook, Alison shared a photo of herself during AR day.

She wrote on Facebook that she warmed up three times for the 800 amid lightning delays: “I was in last place and tried to pass the girl (these were all college kids) in front of me but she held me off and I didn’t have it in me to fully pass and get in front of her so I tucked behind her to draft and ended up with a 2:26.64! My coach has me training right through most of my races leading up to the NCCWMA meet in Toronto in July so my legs were toast. My lungs felt very strong though! An hour later I ran the 200 in second to last place in 29.23 — not better than my 28.80 a couple of weeks ago but I will take it! This mama is TIRED! I am ready to be spoiled for Mother’s Day tomorrow!”

Her 2:26.64 bumps her own listed AR of 2:27.00 set at last year’s Spokane nationals. She also tells me that Oxy was the site of her all-time 800 PR of 2:15 — set about 35 years ago in the heptathlon. Can anyone claim an 800 time now only 11 seconds slower than a 1984 mark?

After lowering her AR, Sue texted Alison with the news “and she responded back with: I got my AR too.”

Sue says she is skipping Ames nationals and the National Senior Games, but will enter the NCCWMA regional WMA meet in Toronto in July, where she’ll double in the 200 and 800.

She also tells me: “I think you’ll see many records broken by Alison and I this season because we both plan on improving a lot.”

(The listed WRs are 2:21.98 and 1.76 meters, or 5-9 1/4, BTW.)

Alison, you’ll recall, set a WR in the indoor high jump this season at 1.66. So she has room to improve on 1.64. Best of luck to both masters mommas!

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