Palacios selected as 2019 USATF Masters Jumper and M50 Athlete of the Year

Last month USATF Indiana member Antonio Palacios, 54, of Bloomigton was recognized by USATF for his outstanding masters track & field performances in 2019.  Palacios was named the 2019 USATF Masters Male Jumper of the Year and also the Male 50-54 Athlete of the Year.  

Typically USATF recognizes its masters athlete of the year at ceremony during the following year’s outdoor masters championships but this year the ceremony was postponed due to the COVID pandemic and subsequently held virtually via Zoom last month.

In 2019 Palacios earned both the world and national titles in the long jump and also set the U.S. record in the outdoor long jump.

At the World Masters Indoor Championships in Poland he was the gold medalist in the long jump with a jump of 20-5¼.  He also won the silver medal in the triple jump with a lead of 43-3.   Later in the year he won the USATF national title in the long jump setting a new U.S. M50 record of 21-03½.
 

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IN THEIR WORDS - Antonio Palacios

I train my butt off, I still got some hops, but my real super power is "Persistence", I just never give up. As a World-class athlete, that drive, that passion to achieve at the highest level is such a singular focus, I sometimes get lost in my on mind and I don't even think about others noticing me or others caring about what I am trying to do. So for me personally being recognized like this brings me back to a  kind of balanced reality; It's not just me against the world, I'm connecting with others, I'm not just a champion for me, but for others as well, it's humbling and a honor.

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The awards ceremony can be viewed below on YouTube.  To skip to Palacios' presentations go to 3:07 and 12:57.