By Roger Sayre
Roger Sayre is all smiles after earning the individual bronze medal in the 8k cross-country for the men’s 65-69 age group in 31:05.
Six runners from the Boulder Road Runners (BRR) participated at the World Masters Athletics (WMA) championships from August 13 to August 25 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Participants included club President Chris McDonald, John Borthwick, Jan Frisby, Bruce Kirschner, Gary Ostwald, and Roger Sayre.
The biennial WMA outdoor championships are the largest gathering of masters athletes in the world, with over 6,000 participants from every continent. The USA had the largest contingent with more than 600 participating. The program offers a full slate of track and field events for athletes from age 35 to 100+. In addition, the WMA championships include non-stadia events with road races, cross country, and race walking.
Chris McDonald receives the baton to start the second leg for the winning USA men’s 4X400 relay team in the 55-59 age group.
McDonald ran the second leg for the USA for the winning men’s 4X400 relay team in 55-59 age group. The team of John Curtis, McDonald, John Corimer, and Arif Husain ran 3:45.89 in a tightly fought battle between USA, Australia (Silver) and Sweden (Bronze).
Bruce Kirshner stays focused to help the Team USA men’s 70-74 age group capture the bronze medal in the half-marathon.
Earlier in the competition, Gary Ostwald was on the winning team in cross country for the 75-79 age group 6 km event. Ostwald placed 6th overall in the age group with a time of 28:44, and he led the USA team in scoring, followed closely by Gary Patton (7th) and Gerry Learned (8th). On the same day, Roger Sayre was on the Gold medal team in the 8K cross country for the men’s 65-69 age group, and placed in the Bronze medal position individually in 31:05. Sayre teamed up with Dan King (who runs for Athletics Boulder) who was the Gold medalist with a 30:38, and David Westenberg, running 32:10 for 5th.
Bruce Kirshner made the most of his only race in Gothenburg, and was on the Bronze medal team for the USA men’s 70-74 age group in the half marathon. Kirshner, placing 19th in the age group, posted a 1:44:49, with teammates Tomas Rodriguez (10th) and John Hershberger (18th).
John Borthick is cheerful about taking on three races in the 60-64 age group: the 800m, the 1500m, and the 8K cross country.
McDonald ran in the prelims of the 800 (2:16.14) and 1500 meters (4:49.6). Teammate John Borthwick ran in the 60-64 age group in the 800 (2:27.45), 1500 meter prelims (5:15.64), as well as in the 8K cross country (35:07).
Close to medaling, but not quite were Jan Frisby, 4th in the men’s 80-84 age group for the 10K road race (57:33), and Roger Sayre 4th in the men’s 65-69 age group for the half marathon with a 1:24:34.
Overall, the USA won more than 200 medals and led the medal count throughout the championships. Nevertheless, to a person the BRR athletes agreed that the excitement of participation in the championships and camaraderie with teammates and athletes from around the world were the most rewarding aspects of the WMA championships.
The BRR Crew representing Team USA at the World Masters Track Championships: Jan Frisby, John Borthwick, Bruce Kirschner, Roger Sayre, and President Chris McDonald. Not pictured: Gary Otswald.