Photos of Masters Athletes in Action

Mt. SAC Showcases Masters Sprinters

Photos by Ken Stone

Thanks to this smiling gentleman, thousands of Southern California track fans were treated to world-class masters at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 20. John Cosgrove, an active leader in the USATF masters movement, lobbied to have a handicap 100m sprint for masters women included on the final day of the 1997 meet. Cosgrove, recovering from recent knee surgery, is an M55 middle distance runner who has ranked high in the steeplechase many years.

Helping Cosgrove organize the 100m event was this USATF official and meet director. Christel Miller holds more than 25 world age records in events ranging from the hurdles and the high jump to the heptathlon and the triple jump.

Mary Libal leads the field of the 100m handicap race at Mt. SAC on April 20, 1997. From left are W70 Johnnye Valien, W65 Sumi Onodera-Leonard, W55 Kemisole Solwazi, then W45 Libal and W40 Denise Foreman, W35 Elaine Iba (partially obscured), W35 Joy Upshaw-Margerum and W30 Grace Dinkins.

The athletes gather for a cheer after the race. Forming a tight circle and placing their hands together, they yelled: "Masters track!" -- a touching show of sportsmanship and solidarity.

Lined up by lane number, members of the the women's 100m field pose for a team shot to mark a milestone in masters track at Mt. SAC. From left are Johnnye Valien, Sumi Onodera-Leonard, Kemisole Solwazi, Mary Libal, Denise Foreman, Elaine Iba, Joy Upshaw-Margerum and Grace Dinkins.

M50 superstar and former Kansas long jumper Stan Whitley (front and center) accepts congratulations from some of his M40-M50 rivals after winning a wind-aided 100m in 11.59 at Mt. SAC.