Striders Meet of Champions: Close and colorful races at Santa Ana

M65 Steve Hardison returned to the vault after six years and surgery on his right shoulder.

M65 Steve Hardison returned to the vault after six years and surgery on his right shoulder.

Saturday’s Southern California Striders Meet of Champions had a modest turnout, but with Striders wearing red and entrants getting bright orange T-shirts, it had to be the most colorful event held anywhere. Also a bunch of very exciting races. (See results here.) Among the close finishes: Jim Chinn edging Super Bowl champ Phil McConkey in the M55 100 12.40 to 12.52. In M30, Michael Koch and Justin Hernandez were both given 12.07. And in the 300 hurdles, M60 Chip Crowl nipped Steve Cummings 50.41 to 50.49. Chip also worked to beat Striders president Joe Ruggless 26.99 to 27.02 in the 200. (Being meet director took a second off Joe’s time, I imagine.) Other great marks include M65 Charlie Rader straddling 1.58 meters (5-2 1/4) and M60 Quenton Torbert putting the shot 15.64 (51-3 3/4) at age 64. Here’s a photo gallery, with most shots by Chris Stone. You can download original, high-rez photos from my Google Drive. Just credit masterstrack.com.

Johnnye Valien, 90, didn’t compete, but stretched in anticipation of Pasadena Senior Games and shot at setting first W90 WR in the pole vault.

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May 9, 2016

3 Responses

  1. Joe Ruggless - May 9, 2016

    Ken

    Thanks for the plug, but Chip got me fair and square. I gave it all I had. He let me get out front and let me believe that the race was mine and then snuck up on me and leaned me at the tape. Experience is everything and that man has experience.

  2. ed rose - May 10, 2016

    Great set of pictures

  3. Barry Warmerdam - May 11, 2016

    Nice to see that Steve Hardison is vaulting again!

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