Athlete of the Year

Kathy Bergen keeps her head down and eyes up for a 2022 that could include more world titles.

Records November 27, 2021

Kathy Bergen bulldozes through pandemic with latest AOY award, plans winning 2022

Depending on your view, Kathy Bergen chose the exact right or wrong time to turn 80. It was December 2019, when only a few had heard of COVID-19. But while some elite masters hunkered down and bloated up, Kathy kept on trackin’ — her eyes on the record-setting prize. She’s a legend of age-group sprinting and high jumping — inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame in 2008 and named USATF Masters Female Athlete of the Year in 2015. What to do for a W80 encore? How about another AOY? “I am absolutely thrilled to receive this award,” Kathy…

Gary Patton battled Kevin Solomon of Australia in the last few meters of the 3000 at 2019 Torun worlds, clocking 11:30.11 for M70 silver.

General October 22, 2021

M75 Gary Patton engineers record-breaking season, wins USATF Masters Athlete of the Year

Last December, Masters Hall of Famer Gary Patton turned 75 and set his eyes on some middle-distance records. First up, in January, was Paul Perry’s 6:10.98 American age-group record in the indoor mile. Gary scorched a Wichita State track in 5:55.26 — a rare sub-6 for a 75-year-old. (The listed WR is 5:41.95 by Canada’s Earl Fee.) But the Kansas meet lacked a USATF sanction, so the mark was rejected. Not to worry. Gary — a retired engineer in Rock Rapids, Iowa (about 50 minutes east of Sioux Falls, South Dakota) — kept cranking. The result: American outdoor records in…