Staying on Track to Grow Old Gracefully
It’s the recognition among peers, the camaraderie or a way to leap into the past.
Whatever the impulse, masters track and field is alive and well in Orange County, thanks to people like Dan Borrey and Elaine Iba.
Borrey and Iba are still recognized in a sport many their age have left behind. They’re entered Saturday in the Saddleback Masters Relays at Saddleback College, a track and field meet for men and women 30 and over.
The meet, in its second year, raises money for the Saddleback track and cross-country teams, including the installation of a new running surface inside the stadium.
Borrey, 55, lives in Villa Park. He returned to the pole vault at 44 and set an age-group world record six years later.
Iba, 40, lives in Trabuco Canyon and competes in several events. She was selected her age group’s field athlete of the year in 1999 and won the javelin and high jump at the USATF Masters National Championships last summer in Eugene, Ore.
Iba is entered in the long jump, triple jump and 60- and 100-meter dashes Saturday.
Borrey and Iba moved into new age groups this year, which meant a transition from being the oldest to the youngest in their divisions. The youngest athletes in each age group typically have a better opportunity to set records and move up in the world rankings.
Borrey was ranked seventh in the world in the men’s 50-54 pole vault last year. Iba was ranked as high as 13th in the 60-meter dash for the women’s 35-39 age group and 17th in the long jump.
“It’s kind of funny,” said Iba, who now competes in the 40-44 age group. “A lot of people dread turning 40, but I feel like I have an advantage now.”
Iba also credits her involvement in masters track and field with opening up other opportunities. She nearly made the four-man Olympic bobsled team in 1998 and is now focused on making the 2002 team in the skeleton, a new winter event much like the luge.
“You make a lot of friendships,” said Iba. “It becomes almost like a buddy system.”
Borrey’s love for the pole vault hasn’t waned, despite three surgeries on his right Achilles tendon between 1996 and 1998. He cleared 15-1 1/4 to win a world title at age 49, and went 14-9 a year later to set a world record in the 50-54 age group.
Both marks bettered his personal best set while attending college in his native Belgium.
Borrey had a series of nagging injuries last year, but still managed to jump 13 feet, the ninth-best mark in the world in the 50-54 age group in 2000.
That vault, which he recorded while finishing second at the USATF West Regional Championships at Cerritos College in July, would have topped the 2000 world list among 55- to 59-year-olds.
“I should be able to do better than that this year,” Borrey said.
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Other competitors entered Saturday include world record-holder Larry Stuart of Lake Forest, who will compete in the men’s 60-64 javelin. Stuart, 63, was ranked third in the world in his age group last year.
Bill Knocke, 61, of Huntington Beach, who won gold medals in the 100 and 300 hurdles in the men’s 60-64 age group last summer at the USATF national championships in Eugene, will also compete in those events.
Knocke and Doug Smith, 61, of Laguna Hills will form an 800-meter relay team that has a chance to set a world record in their age group. Smith and Knocke were part of a 400-relay team that reset the national record five times last year.
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Burt DeGroot, a 94-year-old from San Clemente, will compete in the shotput and discus. DeGroot, whose 85-year-old brother, Hugo, is an assistant track coach at Mission Viejo High, won the hammer throw at the last world championships, held in Gateshead, England during the summer of 1999, and took second in the shotput and discus.
DeGroot hasn’t been able to compete since then for health reasons.
Tony Castro, a 92-year-old from Los Angeles, is scheduled to compete in the 60- and 100-meter dashes, where he hopes to set world records for his age group.
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The Saddleback Masters Relays begins with the 5-kilometer racewalk at 8 a.m. and concludes with the sprint medley relay at 4:15 p.m.
Late entries will be accepted at the meet, but must be paid and entered two hours before the particular event.
For more information call (949) 831-5935.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
BASKETBALL
April 7
* Registration for Three-on-Three Stop ‘N’ Pop youth basketball tournament continues until March 16 at Travis Ranch Activity Center in Yorba Linda. Boys’ and girls’ ages 10-14 are eligible. Details: (714) 961-7167.
RUNNING
Saturday
* March Mayhem 5K at Concordia University in Irvine. Benefits Kids Cancer Connection and the university’s cross-country and track and field teams. Details: (949) 854-8002, ext. 1845
Sunday
* Spirit Run starts at Fashion Island in Newport Beach and features a 5K and 10K run. Proceeds benefit several Newport Beach elementary schools. Details: (949) 451-4568 or https://www.kinaneevents.com
April 1
* Carlsbad 5000, which bills itself at the world’s fastest invitational 5K road race, also offers a series of “People’s Races.” The event is expected to attract 15,000 runners and 50,000 spectators. Details: (858) 450-6510 or https://www.eliteracing.com
April 7
* Seal Beach 10K and 5K starts and finishes at the Seal Beach Pier. Details: (562) 431-2527
April 21
* Earth Week Run in Placentia has 8K and 5K courses and kids 1K fun run. Details: (714) 993-8232
SOFTBALL
Sunday
* Opening tournament of 25th annual Southern California Over-the-Line softball season is at 9 a.m. at Huntington State Beach. Entry fee per team is $50. Pre-registration required. Details: (562) 866-8685.