Collins and Palacios earn double gold at national masters championships in Iowa

Results

On Sunday (25-Jul) the 2021 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships concluded in Ames, Iowa. USATF Indiana was represented by 14 athletes who competed in 26 events.  1051 athletes from 49 states competed during the four days of competition that began on Thursday (22-Jul),

Indiana members won nine national titles and a total of 20 championship medals (for finishing in the top three in an event final).
 
The highlight of the meet for the Indiana members were the double gold medals won by Michael Collins, 57, of South Bend and Antonio Palacios of Bloomington.  

Collins, who recently won the Indiana 5 km Road Championships, won the 5000m and 10,0000m in the M55-59 division in Ames.  In the 5000m he stopped the clock at 17:05.88 to win an exciting race over David White (17:06.61) of California. and in the 10,000m he ran 35:50.81 to win by over a minute and a half.

Palacios, 55, won the 55-59 long jump and triple jump.  Palacios, a three time Indiana athlete of the year honoree, soared 19-2½ in the long jump for his second consecutive outdoor long jump title.  In 2019 he won the 50-54 title in a new U.S. record of 21-03½.  In the triple jump he won by over 5 feet with best mark of 41-6.

THE POLE VAULTS SOAR AGAIN

Indiana pole vaulters won 7 of the 20 total medals earned by the locals.  Gary Hunter of Fort Wayne won the M65-69 pole vault to claim his 17th national pole vault title and Brenda Babits of Fort Wayne won the W60-64 division for her 15th national title.  Also winning national titles in the pole vault were Scott Johnson (M45-49; Culver, IN) and Chet Clodfelter (M55-59; Roachdale, IN).  Clodfelter also was third in the high jump.  Vaulters earning silver medals were Paul Babits (M60-64) and Dick Kochert (M70-74).  

TWO GUYS; SIX MEDALS

Joining Collins, Palacios, and Clodfelter in earning multiple championship medals were: Chris Buckler (4 medals - 1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze), and Kenneth Drollinger (2 medals - 1 silver, 1 bronze).

INDIANA MEDALISTS

Gold

• Michael Collins (South Bend, IN) M55-59 5000m
• Michael Collins (South Bend, IN) M55-59 10000m
• Scott Johnson (Culver, IN) M45-49 Pole Vault
• Chet Clodfelter (Roachdale, IN) M55-59 Pole Vault
• Gary Hunter (Fort Wayne, IN) M65-69 Pole Vault
• Brenda Babits (Fort Wayne, IN | Vault High Athletics) W60-64 Pole Vault
• Antonio Palacios (Bloomington, IN) M55-59 Long Jump
• Antonio Palacios (Bloomington, IN) M55-59 Triple Jump
• Chris Buckler (Connersville, IN) M40-44 Hammer Throw

Silver

• Kenneth Drollinger (Covington, IN) M65-69 High Jump
• Paul Babits (Fort Wayne, IN) M60-64 Pole Vault
• Dick Kochert (Remington, IN) M70-74 Pole Vault
• Chris Buckler (Connersville, IN) M40-44  Weight Throw

Bronze

• Nick Blakey (Indianapolis, IN) M30-34 400m
• Philip Peterson (Valparaiso, IN | Vault High Athletics) M55-59 Pole Vault
• Kenneth Drollinger (Covington, IN) M65-69 Pole Vault
• Karen Rieger (Indianapolis, IN) W55-59 Pole Vault
• Chet Clodfelter (Roachdale, IN) M55-59 Triple Jump
• Chris Buckler (Connersville, IN) M40-44 Shot Put
• Chris Buckler (Connersville, IN) M40-44 Discus Throw

LOOKING AHEAD

• 2021 USATF Indiana Open & Masters Outdoor Championships (July 31; Fort Wayne, IN)
• 2022 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships (July 28-31 in Lexington, KY)
• 2022 USATF Masters Indoor Championships (March 18-20 in New York, NY)