The Ames Experience
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| Iowa State Cyclones track facility |
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| Clock Tower Campus Town Welch St |
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| USATF TV guy (steaming up there!) |
Angela Staab left from Greensboro, I left from Raleigh, we met in Atlanta, also encountering Josephine Farmer.
. We all flew on to Des Moines, IA.
A small airport so getting bags and a car did not take long. Onboard our flight from ATL, were the Harlem Globetrotters and the Washington Generals, going to Des Moines for an exhibition game.
I did ask one later how he managed re leg room. He said it was okay. (zounds -- maybe he is triple-jointed, able to fold up!) On the way from the airport, we stopped at Hyvees for groceries: yogurt, sports drink, salad for dinner and of course cheese. This time instead of staying at the Sleep Inn, we stayed at the Meet hotel. the Gateway Hotel & Conference Center. Also, like the Sleep Inn (where Barbara Warren and Neringa Jakstiene were staying), very close to the track.
Christel Donley had texted when they were going to eat at the hotel. We figured we would eat our salads so did not plan to join her. However, after picking up our race packets, and feeling thirsty we stopped in the dining room for something to drink and coffee to take back to the room.
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| Christel, Kathy with pandemic change, and Angela |
The dining room was empty except for the Donleys and the Bergens still there eating. I did not realize it until Kathy pointed out her covid-19 pandemic change. Her hair was no longer dark! We stopped and talked for some time and ended up eating there! There was only one server. The fellow had been on his own for most of the evening I think. We were the last to order, by this point, an empty dining room. I had salmon and maybe fries (or was it a salad?) On our way back to the room, we ran into Mary Trotto.
Later, in an effort to get some coffee (dining area closed and no machine) we went to the front desk, encountering Terry Ozell,
Thursday, July 22, 2021.I must comment on the breakfast provisions laid out at the hotel. Juice and coffee but here is what irked me -- all of the packaged cereals were those geared towards kids. Sugary etc. And that was it. Angela suffered as she is big on having eggs etc for breakfast. I think during the weekend, English muffins and maybe eggs were provided, but the cereals remained the same. When I inquired about this selection, I was told that that was what was delivered to them. Most of the days, we got to socialize with the Bergens, Donleys and or the Ozells
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| Angela BIG breakfast |
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| The Ozells |
Our first event day was throwing. Angela was doing the hammer and both of us the weight throw.
A diversion here. Prior to the Meet there had been a bit of a controversy, that lasted I have heard, all of 24 hours. It had to do with the Covid-19 Protocol. All competitors and spectators had to show a vaccination card or proof of a negative PCR or antigen test within seven days of their last event. Those who so qualified were to be given a wrist band each day. The controversy was that initially those who were fully vaccinated would get one color band and those not vaccinated a different color. Apparently this caused some outrage on Facebook. Some indicating that it was a form of discrimination, as if one was a pariah. By the time I became aware of it, the decision had been made to give a single color band regardless of status. (Of course, there were a few who objected to either requirement - vaccination or negative test. They chose not to compete.) On thursday when we arrived, we showed our vaccination cards and had a temperature check then were given a yellow wristband.
The hammer was at 11:45 for Angela. Naturally, once we entered the Cyclone facility, we socialized with those we knew prior to Angela’s 11:45 hammer event. We met Christel Donley and Kathy Bergen and as we walked to the field event, Terry Ozell, done with her 5K.
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| Terry Ozell & Angela Staab |
Later, also, we met Mary Smith who came to watch since her 400m event was not until the next day. The hammer was at 11:45 for Angela. I watched. Several of the women had trouble with the netting being pulled in from the left side (changed to right side if a left handed thrower.) If looking at the circle from the center, the net seemed to cut off part of the throwing area, leaving ¾ of the circle available. One did not have an even cone shaped area outwards in view. There were complaints but we were told this is in the rules and is USATF regulation. Having only watched the hammer from a distance I had no idea. So, when the hammer was contested in the Olympics, I paid close attention. By golly, there it was -- the net pulled inwards, just as in Ames! Angela was thrown off by this. She, like some others, threw into the net once or twice. We had talked to another NCer, Josephine Farmer while at the Atlanta airport. She threw the hammer pretty well. I decided I liked her after getting to talk to her. She told us her knees were a big problem and so she wore knee sleeves. I had not met Sharon Raham in the past and was wowed by her throws. She spun throwing 24.89m (81’8”).
Christel Donley
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| Christel mid swing |
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| The throwing crew. |
Also throwing the hammer was Gloria Krug, setting, once again a USATF record in AG 90-94. 16.62m (54’6”) Something she will probably break next year.
While the field event was going on, our Piedmont Pacer Matt Holtry (Legs Holtry) was running a 5k. He finished third in 23:27.23. The first of his many events. He also did the 10K run (49:03.54) and the race walks - 5K (37:25.97) and 10K (1:19:10.61), getting second in those events.
The weight event wasn’t until 4pm. We ended up going back to the hotel and lazing around until time to return to the Cyclone track for the weight throw. This is one of Angela’s favorite events (she is a Champ at the super weight -16 pounds). I do it just for the heck of it and it shows!
Before and after the hammer we socialized with some of the others there participating in the pentathlon: Ann Carter, Barbara Warren, Mary Trotto, Mary Robinson
In Angela’s AG, 75-79, Sharon Raham again ran away with it, throwing the 8 lb weight 10.00m (32’9”). Catherine Radle and Mary Robinson came in second and third respectively, with throws of 8.49m and 7.62m. Josephine Farmer edged out Angela, throwing 6.96m to Angela’s 6.67m.
In my age group there were only two of us. Joanne Marriott beat my 6.17m (20’3”) by throwing 2 meters farther - 8.17 (26’9”).
I only saw Barbara Warren, in her customary, these days, USA red outfit a few times. While her AG was waiting for ours to finish during a field event and once while she was running the Penthalon on Thursday. I could tell her knees were bothering her as she sort of stepped over a hurdle. During the Meet she did all of the jumping events, all the field events, the hurdles, the pole vault, and the Pent. Knees? Feet? Ignored. No problem! she got 2 golds, 3 silvers, and five bronze, one fourth and one fifth.
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| Mary Trotto |
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| Flo Meiler Barbara Warren |
Also doing the Pent were Ann Carter, Flo Meiler, and Mary Trotto.
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| Ann Carter |
The weight event wasn’t until 4pm. We ended up going back to the hotel and lazing around until time to return to the Cyclone track for the weight throw. This is one of Angela’s favorite events (she is a Champ at the super weight -16 pounds). I do it just for the heck of it and it shows!
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| Weight Officials |
In Angela’s AG, 75-79, Sharon Raham again ran away with it, throwing the 8 lb weight 10.00m (32’9”). Catherine Radle and Mary Robinson came in second and third respectively, with throws of 8.49m and 7.62m. Josephine Farmer edged out Angela, throwing 6.96m to Angela’s 6.67m.
In my age group there were only two of us. Joanne Marriott beat my 6.17m (20’3”) by throwing 2 meters farther - 8.17 (26’9”).
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| Gloria Krug |
Gloria Krug set another AG record, throwing 7.m (24’11”).
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| Ann Carter |
That evening Mary Trotto joined us when we went to my favorite Ames restaurant, Hickory Park Restaurant on Duff Ave. The last two times I had been there, I was not up to par, but nonetheless, gorged myself on entree and ice cream dessert. This time, however, I was a bit concerned because of Covid and my immune system being suppressed. The restaurant is always crowded. As it was this Thursday night. We had somewhat of a long wait, despite Angela having called ahead to find a time when there would be less of a wait. We were seated over by a window facing the parking lot, at a table that backed up to a wall so no one was behind me. Angela ordered the fried pickles as an appetizer. I believe we both ordered the black bean hamburger. It, like most entrees there, was huge. I barely was able to finish it. But I think I still had a banana split for dessert. Mary Trotto ordered something else and later indicated that it was so so.
An Ames Tradition! | Hickory Park Restaurant Co.
Friday, July 23, 2021. Friday, we had an 8am discus throw event. I was not sleeping well so I got up a few times during the night. I woke up at 04:30 from a dream in which I had been told I was DQed for both fouling by stepping over the boundary and for taking too long. Sleep was not easily recaptured after that. But eventually, I fell asleep. But at maybe 7:15, Angela returned to the room from breakfast to find me still asleep. Aiii! Panic! had to hurry up and get dressed and out the door by 7:30. We had planned to leave earlier than that and were the last to arrive at the throwing area. Good thing the hotel is close to the track.
In Angela’s AG, Sharon Raham reigned again, coming in first to Josephine Farmer and Mary Robinson. Sharon 16.27m, Josephine 15.6m, and Mary 14.12m. Ann Carter also threw 13.29m coming in 4th, followed by Angela Staab at 10.31m and then Laura Ingles.
In my AG there were only three of us (Rose Green having canceled from Ames.) Kathy Bergen just strolls up and throws. No back and forth priming the pump -- just throw. And of course she excels at it. In my last two throws I tried to also just go into the circle and throw with no priming. One of those was my longest. Kathy won the discus event throwing 17.89m (58’8”), I came in second with 13.64m (44’9”) and Joanne Marriott, returning to track events, third with a throw of 11.81m (38’9”). Linda Kelly in the 60 AG threw 17.59m (57’8”). Linda Cohn, the javelin master, won her 65-69 AG discus event with a throw of 23.39m (76’89”)
I had the 400m at 11:45. I discovered prior to my warmup that in my haste to exit the room, I had forgotten my energy drink, gel, and beet juice. A bad sign since I need all the energy boost I can get. Lacking beet juice meant breathing stamina could be an issue. And so it goes.
I went to the warm up area. Ames has the best of all the meets I've been to. A huge grassy field, set up with a few hurdles for those who do such things. I tried a very slow trot to the far end, actually walking part way. It takes a long time for me to dredge up enough stamina to go that distance unless walking. Eventually, I did some shorter jogs back and forth. Mary Smith came out to the field and we did a few short ones together until I backed off while Mary continued her warm up, going the distance.
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| Mary Smith looking g for souvenir |
Finally, we were queued up for the 400m. As we were the oldest we went first and it was only the two of us. (Rose Green having canceled.) Great! Since it is now months after the event, I can’t recall exactly what lane I was in, but I think it may have been 7 and Mary 5. I know that she passed me shortly after the race began. I was going slowly, watching her recede into the distance. I think she was already on the far straightaway as I was approaching the curve. I managed to get maybe 5/8th of the way down the lane towards the Finish line when my legs just did not have it. I am not much of a competitor these days so did not fight it and began walking, somewhat gasping. The people in the stands urged me to run so eventually I did for maybe the last ten meters. Quite pathetic. Mary achieved her goal -- setting a new American record for the 80-84 age group in the 400m. Despite running with one hamstring mostly detached from the ischial tuberosity. The other side’s hamstring not so hot either! (She had subsequent reattachment surgery on the real bad boy.) What does this show? Unreal determination to reach a goal. Had the hamstring totally detached during this event it would have been a catastrophe. Mary’s time 1:30.84, mine 2:04.68.
I was quite glad when the 400m was over. Since 2018, it has been nothing but embarrassing performances. It is perverse that I on and off try again (I did skip the 2019 USATF Masters Indoor 400m.)
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| LG, Christel Donley, Mary Smith, Angela Staab |
In the men’s 40-44 AG 400m, Gerald Green won in 52.94. Rick Pack got edged out of second by Jamar Glenn with a time of 54.04 to Rick’s 54.41.
As it was Friday, Barbara Hensley, her son Steve, Ann Carter and I went to Red Lobster for dinner. (Actually - it had nothing to do with the day of the week, just the one place we could all agree upon - with Chinese being a close second.) I ordered cold crab legs. Delicious but a heck of an effort to pull out a smidgeon of meat! I probably left at least ¼ of it inaccessible. It seems a shame when I think of the death of a sea creature, for the taste of a few morsels. Ann regaled us with stories of her early days in the U.S. and Barbara and her son told us of their various trips.
Saturday, July 24, 2021. Today I had the 100m at 10:15 and the javelin throw at 1:30. Due to the absence of Rose Green, it was only Kathy Bergen and me in my AG. I think Flo Meiler (85-89) lined up on the other side of Kathy. Flo was the only one in her AG.. I recall somewhat of a delay but eventually, there we were: Kathy in her blocks and me standing. My goal was to run as fast as I could despite the foregone conclusion that Kathy would win. As she did by leaps and bounds! 16.54 to my 20.84. Not as embarrassing as the 400m because I did not look slow for as long and also it did not require a walk. And, besides, it is an honor to be on the same track as Kathy,
and Mary Smith, but more fun when I don’t have to walk! We all had a +2.4 wind -- imperceptible to me. Flo finished in 23.75. I hope if I reach 85, and still running, I can run that fast. It does not seem likely when I consider my decline in the last five years.
In the younger 65-69 AG, my NC compatriot Jane Barnes won in 15.35 with Leandra Funk second in 15.84 and Rita Hanscom third in 15.85. (I did not get to see Hanscom’s dog this time.). Colleen Barney (another Joy’s Jackrabbit!) in a yet younger AG, came in third in her 100m, with a time of 14.01.
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| Jane Barnes & Maureen Rooney |
Some of the younger men, in fact many of them, ran the 100m in a time of ten seconds something! Daniel Tutsky, 40-44, 10.82; Rondrick Parker, 35-39, 10.56; Charles Jackson 30-34, 10.67 all with winds under 2m/s.
Angela decided to skip the 800m, wanting to save energy for her more preferred, these days, 1500m on Sunday. However, she changed her mind! Kathleen Frable who had run the 10K in the morning was debating about running it, but also decided to do so. Kathleen ran it in 4:47.04 and Angela in 5:15.41. I watched the 70-74 AG run the 800m because, to my shock, Coreen Steinbach has turned 70. Hard to believe she is no longer 55. She far outran her competitors, running herself almost out of air, coming in in an amazing 3:05.85. The other women in that AG were no slouches either. Nancy Rollins second in 3:38.60, Norma (Nomi) Hudnell third in 3:49.64, and Isabel Bentz 3:56.58.
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| Coreen Steinbach after a hard run |
Rick Pack ran in a group of 11 for the 40-44 men’s 800m. This is a staggered start format. Any distance over 400m with a large group of participants has the risk of tripping etc. Just watch the Olympics. Risky when they bunch up. No one tripped or fell in Rick’s event. He finished 8th with a time of 2:13.78.
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| Rick Pack & Angela Staab |
It was really hot in the field for our javelin event.. There was a bench with a slight overhang for some shade but not much. The 75 - 94 AG was fairly large so not much shade for some of us. Sharon Raham exhibited her mastery in this event as well. She took her AG with a throw of 19.77m (64’10”) with Mary Robinson taking second with 14.86m (48’9”) and Ann Carter third with 11.02m (36’02”) Angela threw 8.86m (29’1”) but this is an event she is working on. Her best one being the super weight, which is not competed at the USATF Masters events.
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| Jav Officials |
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| Jav folks |
Gloria Krug AG 90 stoic. But one could see when she was not happy with her throw. Her first throw was 8.47m but her fourth of six was the best 11.40m (37’5”) and also set a new USATF AG record. As per usual for Gloria this year. Oh, and also farther than many of the throws of those of us younger! This former Marine shows us what to aim for and that one might be able to keep on excelling.
In my AG, it was just Joanne Marriott and me. In our case, our fourth throws were our best. Mine was 12.91m (42’4”) and Joanne’s 10.32m (33’10”)
Flo Meiler and Tami Graf, both extending their legends, competed against each other. Flo’s best throw was her first, 9.49m (31’1”) and Tami’s her second,10.09m (33’1”).These two women in the 85-89 AG are dynamos. Their energy and strength to be envied. They both did the 2000m steeplechase and multiple other events. Tami ran the 5K and 10K, the 800m and 1500m, plus did hurdles as well as the throws. Flo continues to pole vault and do all of the jumping events.
Linda Cohn won her 65-69 AG in her favorite event, the jav, with a humongous throw of 31.44m (103’1”) Another humongous throw was that of Nicole Kelly who threw the jav 33.86m (111’1”) in the 40-44 AG, winning first place.. Her mom, Linda Kelly threw her jav 15.52m (50’11”)
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| Mary Smith, Angela Staab, the Kellys |
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| Linda & Nicoole Kelly |
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| Linda Cohn |
I don’t recall how we ended up with the Atlanta Track Club folk for pizza at the Pizza Pit in the center of Des Moines, but we did! Maybe it was Mary Trotto’s suggestion. Nonetheless there we were, a TNT trackster (Mary) and two Piedmont Pacers intermixed with the ATCers. Terry and Phil Ozell, Noni Hudnell, Josephine Farmer, Catherine Radle, and others I did not know. The pizza was great! Barbara Hensley and her son Steve came by prior to their trip to a bridge to watch a sunset. Steve takes great photos.
Sunday, July 25, 2021. Today Angela and I had the shot put, 200m, and the 4x100 relay. Angela had the 1500m first thing at 8am. Kathleen Frable was scheduled to run this but scratched so Angela had it all on her own, running it in 11:44.71. I can’t recall if they combined Angela’s 1500 with the three 70-74 runners, which Coreen Steinbach won in 6:28.18 and Norma Hudnall got 2nd with 7:47.14 followed by Isabel Bentz 8:08.13. Tami Graf (85-89) ran the 1500m in 13:19.76. Lesley Hinz, now in the 60-64 AG ran a 5:40.29 winning her event but having to fend off Julie Hayden who ran a 5:40.90! Terry Ozell, having aged up to 65-69, ran a 7:31.8.
The 75-94 shot put group threw together. I observed the different throwing styles. The slide - face backwards to field, slide one leg back then sort of hop and turn forward and throw. Does not work for me. Some like me face sideways, turn, and just heave. After our AG event ended, Angela was complimented by an official on her throwing form. She does look like a Pro. Joanne Marriott and I battled it out with Joanne besting me 6.24m (20 ’5 3/4”) to my 6.21m (20’ 4’ 1/2”). Sharon Raham won the younger age group throwing 7.11m (23’4”), Catherine Radle came in 2nd with 6.88m (22’7”) and Mary Robinson 3rd 6.65m (21’10”). Josephine Farmer was 4th and Angela Staab 5th. Linda Kelly in the 60-64 AG threw the shot 8.48m (27’10”) and her daughter Nicole Kelly won her AG, throwing the shot 10.27m (33’81/2”) making her a double National Champion. She also came in third in the high jump 1.30m (4’31/4”) and competed in the 100m and 200m.
Speaking of the 200m, it would just be me and Kathy Bergen in our AG. Angela and Mary Robinson in the younger AG. As I was walking out to the field to warm up, Christel Donley came up and said she was scratching from the 200. She did not feel up to it. What? Says I. I encouraged her to run it since I knew she had been doing some 200s in Colorado with Mary Smith at the Rampart HS track. Why waste all that effort? In retrospect, I should have let her go with her feelings as I know full well what it is like to not feel up to an event. But Christel (86) decided to go ahead and run it. Running with a bum shoulder no less. She competed Saturday in the high jump against Flo Meiler. They both jumped the same height - 0.93m (3’01/2”) It was a tie and they decided not to do more jumps, resulting in a first for both.
It was a good thing that I enticed Christel to run the 200m, because then we sat together in the queuing area.. While we were waiting, I was having trouble with my spikes. I could not get one shoe to tighten because the laces were screwed up. (I sometimes bury the ends beneath other laces but also sometimes do the bit where one passes an opposite lace beneath a loop at the top). Anyway, I had a mess on hand and Christel, like a good mommy, fixed my laces for me.
The younger women stayed in the shade beneath a tent positioned near the 200m start. I was in lane 5, usually my favorite, Kathy in lane 4 and Christel in lane 3. In the video, one can see the “let’s get this on '' posture and faces of my two compatriots. And in the video, I see what my Maxeirflo does to my face! Halloween!
Nonetheless, when we started, Kathy flew forward from her blocks while I straggled behind looking as if I was trying to go fast but couldn’t. Christel not far behind me. Kathy waited at the Finish for us. Funny, our times were almost 10 seconds apart from each other. Kathy 37.20, me 47.32 and Christel 57.95. Kathy actually already had the USATF AG record for the 200m as well as 100m.
I was probably still gasping when the 75-79 AG started with Mary Robinson, Barbara Hensley and Angela. Mary came in first in 44.49, Barbara second in 52.42 and our middle distance runner Angela third in 1:00.41. This win made Mary Robinson a 3 event 2021 National Champion! That is special to win the 100, 200, and 400!
In the 65-69 AG it was another battle between Jane Barnes and Leandra Funk. This time Leandra won with a time of 32.88 to Jane’s 33.32.
Angela, who loves the relay, signed up our past 4x100 Non Club relay team of Mary Robinson, Angela, Barbara Hensley and me. We ran in that order. Being the last runner, in a 25-89 AG relay, I hung out with the younger folks who were in adjacent lanes as team anchors. Met Easter Grant, who I was familiar with from her Facebook USATFMasters group posts. Being an anchor on a slower relay team gives me the advantage of watching the others pass the baton, though sometimes so fast, it is hard to see. There was no other 75-79 AG competing with us (not true, though when at the National Senior Games!)
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| mary Hartzler and relay team(3) |
Barbara Hensley came steaming up to me. I tried to move and not stand still, yet grab the baton. I love that run to the Finish line. It always seems so much faster than even when running the 100m. Surely it must be psychological. Possibly the exchange zone in my lane might have been a bit closer to the Finish line than the 100m Start line. Our team time was 1:36.82.
This being the last day of the Meet, folks bid each other farewell until the next time. Angela and I ate at a restaurant situated in the midst of an office complex, aptly called Lot F. Angela ordered warm olives. I loved them but they had a bad effect on Angela’s mouth.
Before leaving the hotel for good, I took a photo of the poorly designed bathroom as regards where the toilet paper dispenser was located as related to the toilet itself. Bad design! One had to almost come off of the toilet and reach back to obtain any toilet paper.
Another bathroom shot -- this of an Ozell shirt. Perfect with my blue eyes.
On the way to the airport along MLK drive, we passed a cemetery on the right. Eerily, there was a large prominent dead tree. Drought stricken perhaps. If not sad for those ensconced below ground, one could feel sympathy for the tree.
Our flight to Atlanta was delayed a little but not as much as my flight to RDU. Angela’s flight to Greensboro was supposed to leave before mine to RDU. It didn't happen. We both got home far later than planned. But home we were - and uninjured.
‘Til next time.
