Collins and Palacios earn double gold at national masters championships in Iowa
Michael Collins (M55 5000m & 10,000m champion)
After a successful ultra-running career that included a bronze at the World Championships 100k I embarked on a month long Marathon-a-Day charity event that ultimately injured my SI joint, sidelining me for three years. After a cortisone injection and intensive rehab I slowly recovered. The last year and a half have been about building a base, along with trying to reclaim some speed. I entered the USATF Championships injury-free and was glad of the opportunity. The championships were a wonderful experience. As veterans nearly all of us have fought back injury and other setbacks. The camaraderie was amazing. Also, one appreciates the volunteers who give of their time to allow us to compete in these championships.
Antonio Palacios (M55 Long Jump and Triple Jump champion)
I was in need of a dose of human inspiration from my Master’s track and field family. I lost my mother, in March of this year, and it wasn’t because of Covid, but we certainly experienced a Covid affect as for not having funeral or a family get together (which made the grieving process a bit more difficult for me). My Mother, Edwina Palacios was my first track coach, and this weekend in Ames I kind of just closed my eyes and became that 10 year old boy again; I could hear her in my head, “Attack the board & hold that landing” – Mama Coach Palacios was big on technique! Covid has brought change and challenge to us all, but for me personally getting back to what I do in Masters Track has helped change “Darkness to Light”, and I think my mother, my coach would be proud of how I competed this past weekend in Ames.
Place
Name
Division
Event
City, State | Club Affiliation
Performance
1
Michael Collins
M55-59
5000m
South Bend, IN
17:05.88
10000m
35:50.81
Scott Johnson
M45-49
Pole Vault
Culver, IN
4.10m / 13-5¼
Chet Clodfelter
Roachdale, IN
3.90m / 12-9½
Gary Hunter
M65-69
Fort Wayne, IN
3.70m / 12-1½
Brenda Babits
W60-64
Fort Wayne, IN | Vault High Athletics
2.20m / 7-2½
Antonio Palacios
Long Jump
Bloomington, IN
5.85m / 19-2½
Triple Jump
12.65m / 41-6
Chris Buckler
M40-44
Hammer Throw
Connersville, IN
30.87m / 101-3
2
Kenneth Drollinger
High Jump
Covington, IN
1.55 / 5-1
Paul Babits
M60-64
3.50m 11-5¾
Dick Kochert
M70-74
Remington, IN
2.70m/8' 10¼”
Weight Throw
7.97m / 26-1
3
Nick Blakey
M30-34
400m
Indianapolis, IN
51.46
Philip Peterson
Valparaiso, IN | Vault High Athletics
2.85m / 9-4¼
3.20m / 10-6
Karen Rieger
W55-59
1.82m / 5-11½
10.34m / 33-11¼
Shot Put
10.10m / 33-1¾
Discus Throw
25.55m / 83-10
5
100m
11.55
6
Andy Schloot
M50-54
12.68m / 41-7
7
Javelin Throw
18.23m / 59-9
8
19.17m / 62-10
9
12,62
Pentathlon
664 pts.