WMA Indoor 2025 Celebration Pointe Gainesville
Back with the gators.
Take note – what follows is drawn from memory and maybe a few photos. I was quite lazy and did NOT take notes as I ought to have. And this being such a big and important meet!
So. what is the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? Both are fast on land. 11 – 15mph (max 35mph but only for very short distance. ) I expect not a 400m speedster. Maybe 60m. Too fast for us speedsters. They have little endurance. Alligators are smaller and rounder in the snout. Gators live mostly in fresh water whereas Crocs can live in either fresh or salt water. Supposedly Gators are not aggressive unless one is trying to steal their eggs. (However, it seems I read that a Gator got an 85 year old woman who was walking her dog near a pond in Florida It got her foot, dragging her into the pond, leaving the smaller meal, the dog.) Crocs are more aggressive. The critter in the pond at the Gainesville Sport Center is a Gator. (Gators lose and regrow teeth. Approximately 300 in their lifetime. Would that we could regenerate our lost teeth.)
Prior to my departure, I saw a post by Colleen Barney “I know where there is a door, you turn the knob and you can get in.” I thought that was funny! I never did ask her where that door was or where it led! Could be entry to scary or delightful place- sort of like a stranger saying I know where the candy is - follow me into a horror movie. ( A Carol Burnett skit.)
March 21. I dropped my dog off at her favorite boarding place – her Vet’s! Then I hurried home to wait for the Uber. The Uber arrived. And then sat there. The driver did not leave. I am wondering what is going on - then he indicates that his app does not indicate he is at my house yet, therefore he can’t leave. Huh? He kept waiting and waiting. Finally I said I needed to get to the airport. For the whole drive there, his Uber app kept saying he had not gotten to his pickup yet. As I recall, I was never charged for that trip.
I met Angela Staab in the Atlanta airport where we took the same flight to Gainesville. April Lund and others were also on the flight from ATL to Gainesville. Angela had rented a moderate size Beast to use while in Gainesville. Barbara Warren was driving from WV and the two Colorado Springs folk, Mary Smith and Christel Donley who would also be staying at the Indigo were arriving later. Mary Robinson and Mary Hartzler drove from Ohio and were staying elsewhere. Do not recall where we ate or with whom.
Let’s talk about breakfast! When we were there for the USATF Indoor Nationals, The Indigo had a small room with some tables. Hard to recall the breakfast but no doubt Angela Staab had her fresh eggs. We all commented that we did not know how they would handle the huge WMA crowd. Well, wow! They outdid themselves with an enormously long table and a huge help one self spread of fruit, eggs, oatmeal, waffles etc. Everything. It made for a great Meet and Greet – meeting folks from other countries as well as your own. Comraderie encouraged. Austrailia, Germany, UK, Singapore etc are the folks I recall talking to. Good way to also know the USATF Officials who had signd up to officiate. Some we knew or rather I knew. (The Legend) Christel Donley having done this since a teen in Germany, knows everyone. Margit Jungmann also joined the officials for breakfast. Quite a feat by WMA officials and the Gainesville LOC to pull this Indoor Championship off. The logistics and scheduling could give one agita.
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| Netherlands competitor with his lucky mascot |
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| Colleen Barney Angela Staab at practice track |
March 22
packet pickup. Met lots of familiar US faces. Donna Zubick then others. Christel engaged in conversation, lingering in the pickup line talking to others who were heading out
M. Lots of colorful nation flags in the plaza. At night the Athlete Parade. A speech by Margit Jungmann welcoming everyone. As well as short welcome speeches by local officials. There was a local dance – sort of ballet group. Ukraine got a loud cheer from the US contingent. Some nations had many people marching, others few. I think the US was limited to a small number.
March 23. Sunday
Having been to the February USATF Indoor Nationals in February, I knew where the practice track was – down the street a bit, through a parking lot to the nice 200m or so practice track adjacent to the alligator pond. Today, there was also a USATF Physio tent.
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| Practice track. White tent usatf physio |
Turned out, I needed that. On my first few attempts to warm up for the 60m, my right knee hurt. Not good. So I went over to the Physio tent to see if I could find Marie Valdez
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| Marie and Christel Donley |
to maybe tape. Marie was not there but Ena Weinstein
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| Ena |
stepped up and said she would do it. (Ena worked on Barbara Warren at Björlanda Athletics Center, in Sweden.) Ena used the crazy pattered brown and black Dynamic tape (360 degree stretch) and it worked great! So I went back to the practice area to do my short sprints, starting with the warmup 30m. I needed to practice my starts which are dreadful! Mary Trotto was there and she gave me standing start lessons, including strongly thrusting my left arm forward (my left foot being on the line and right back.) So I practiced that for a bit (coordination is not my strong suit. Getting my right foot to move forward in conjunction with thrusting left arm forward – tough.) Then I practiced short sprints of 40-50m. I would not be the swiftest in our group of 12 W80s but hoped to at least be okay. I knew I would finiish the 60m. I could not count on anything longer.
This time Georgia Kightlinger was ready with her shoes. They organized us in two heats – Fast Mary Robinson and her close Canadian relative Carol Lafayette-Boyd, three Thais, and Aileen Burgin (Canada) in heat one and Georgia, Marina Worsley (with a brace on her hip!), Barbara Hensley, a Thai, and Polish Maria Magdalena Gasowska in my heat. The Thais, btw, were diminutive and slight. I could see in the first heat, not unexpectedly Carol Lafayette-Boyd came in first (10:37) , followed by Aileen and Mary Robinson. I knew with Georgia in my heat, I would be towards the back. Actually, Maria Magdalena came in first (12:20) followed by Georgia, a Thai (Somphit Pongkanphai) and me (14:02), so I, in the end, qualified to run in the Final the next day.
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| Carol Lafayette-Boyd and Mary Robinson |
Also on Sunday was the 8K cross country race in which April Lund ran 30:29.95 to get second in a very close finish of the first four.
Mary Trotto, Mary Smith, Christel Donley, Angela and I ate at Miller’s that evening. Some of us ordered steak - me 6oz sirloin.. Christel’s was not cooked enough, Trotto’s was perfect, and mine was a bit tough. Smith does not eat meat so she was okay with what she ordered. Despite our meals, we had a good time, as we laughed. Trotto nicely wrapped up the cups of mustard in a napkin with a rubber band so I would have mustard should a muscle cramp attack! We always have fun with Trotto!
March 24 Monday.
Today I had discus at 13:00 as did Trotto and Angela. Barbara may have been after us. At 14:34, I had the 60m Final, which I had not anticipated being in. So, of course, I worried about fitting the discus in as well as the track warmup. Btw, I kept looking for the Gator. I got a glimpse of it ranging around. I heard that at one point when I was not at the warmup track, it ventured onto the land (really close to the track) and was shooed back into the water. (Mary Robinson went to a Gator farm and got a better experience.)
So, because of my concern that I would not have enough time to sufficiently warm up or the 60m, I did not go to West End (a distance from the main indoor venue). Mary Robinson, who did go, said I could have gone and might have had a chance to place. Five of us had registered. The incredible Finn, Rauha Ervalahti got first (19.18m), Mary Robinson second (14.03m) and Karen Huff-Pawlik 12.17m, and Angela Staab 11.05m. The lady we had seen in Sweden (85-89 AG) Tserendolga Turmubat, Mongoloia, threw 15.80m.
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| Rahua in blue next to Barbara Warren |
In the 75-79 AG, Mary Hartzler defended the US by winning gold with a throw of 24.69m (81 feet!). Mary Trotto and Barbara Warren go fifth and sixth (12.83m and 12.20m respectively). Myrle Mensey was not present.
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| Mary hartzler at west end |
So, I am back at the pactice area, warming up. How much can one do? Not too much, really. I took a photo of an Australian sprinter’s good sprint form.
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| Maryann Hearn Australia |
So along comes the 60M Final. I figure Carol Lafayette-Boyd has it and maybe Mary Robinson and Maria Magdalena and Georgia Kightlnger would be battling for second and third. Well, I was correct about Carol, she came in first in 10.33, followed by Maria Magdalena Gasowska 11.91, Georgia Kightlinger third with 12.26. Surprise Aileen Burgin came in 4th in 13.30, Mary Robinson 5th 13.34, and me 6tth (of 8) 13.65. I thought I had run slower in the Final than I had in the Prelim so I was surprised at my time. It sure did not feel like that while I was running. One of my better times lately.
Angela Staab, Cora Hill, Nancy Berger and Marie-Louise Michelson had the 800m around 3:30. Judy Womack was another USA runner in the event plus a Czech woman Miloslaa Rocna'kova'. I watched. Cora went to the lead maybe half way through with Michelsohn behind her and Nancy Berger coming up from behind in an outside lane.
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| Womack, Michelson, Milosaa, hill, Berger |
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| Hill, Michelson, Womack, milosaa |
With about 120m to go Marie-Louise took the lead, the Czech lady moved up to second and Nancy Berger to third and that is how it finished with Marie-Louise, in her red USA uniform, crossing the line in 5:10.50, Miloslava Rocnáková in 5:12.41, and Nancy Berger in 5:17.28. Cora Hill 5:32.34, Judy Womack 5:53.31 and Angela Staab 6:25.51. Had I tried the 800, I would have been walking by 359m! Probably sooner. Yay for these W80 women.
Ford’s Garage for dinner. I had black & Bleu burger.
March 25th, Tuesday
Angela and I only had javelin on Tuesday. Most of our group had Javelin at the West End Field. The age groups were combined 75-94 so we were all together – Mary Trotto, Barbara Warren, Christel Donley, Angela, and me. Sometines I can throw okay and other times not. This was one of those NOT times. While I was practicing arm movements, the Finn Rauha smiled and sort of demonstrated. After that, I sort of tried to commmunicate by sign language. She is a delightful person. The poor Finns, Rauha and Helina Pihlaja were there without their suitcases. The suitcases got to Iceland but not to Gainesville so they had to go shopping when they got here. Fortunately they had at least one Finn uniform (one had to compete with at least the top representing one’s Nation.) Their suitcases did not arrive until the night before the last day! International competition sucks (sonetimes even just within one’s own continent. ) The travails of travel. In my AG 80-84 Carol Frost of the US came in first throwing 15.55, followed by Rauha and Helina (15.28m and 13.21m), then Mary Robinson 11.92m and me 11.69m (5th of 7). In the 75-79 Mary Hartzler got second (to Avis Vaught (US)) and Mary Trotto and Barbara Warren were again close at 5th and 6th (12.83m to 12:20) In the 85AG Tumurbat beat Cazel (US) . Christel was only one in the 90AG – threw 8.69m. ,Paula Everdel our USATF official managed to keep the herd of senior women in order and behaving.
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| Paula Everdeen |
All I can account for for dinners from here on is Kilwin’s ice cream!
Though this evening it was USA team dinner – I had pizza and a piece of chicken, I believe. Plus socializing.
Angela, the twins, Christel and huff-pawlick
I had nothing on Wed March 26 so just watched events. Angela had the 3000m. Marie-Louise Michelsohn did not show so we wondered if she would not be there for the subsequent shorter events. Angela Staab got second (26:54.75) to the Czech Miloslava Rocnáková She had not been allowed to use her carbon fiber shoes (though as we later showed they were legit in terms of stack height etc) so she had to run in her regular running shoes, which were not comfortable. Then, there is the aspect of the inclned track. Before being able to cut in she had to run on the slanted track. Not a happy situation for her.
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| Angela and miloslava getting their medals |
March 27, Thursday.
Weight throw at 12:30 and 200 prelim at 14:00. Weight throw was in the Sports Center. It is an ugh for me. The two Finns had second and third with Carol Frost, USA, sandwiched between. Rauha threw 10.76m (35’3 ¾”!), Carol 9.51m and Helina 8.29m. I was 7th out of 8 with 6.20m. (All results can be found online at WMACI.2025.com/results
Ah. The 200m prelim 80-84. Sixteen of us showed up. Marie-Louise Michelsohn did not. Only six could qualify for the Final as Indoor is a six lane track. Had it been eight, I would have squeezed in but I was far away from making a six person Final. My time 51.67. Carol Lafayette-Boyd, Maria Magdalena Gasowska, Georgia Kightlinger, Catherine Radle (more than a pole vaulter, that is for sure), Mary Robinson and Aileen Burgin were all to be in the finals.
Colleen Barney ran her 200 after us and qualified for the final.
Willy Spruill gor fifth n the 200m Final. Willy is a great cheerleader for his fellow Americans.
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| Willy Spruill sans toothpick |
Friday March 28.
I had Hammer at West End at 10:30 and did NOT have the 200m Final at 14:00. Hammer has become one of my favorites- Rauha won this in the W80-84 group, slinging the hammer 25.53m (83FT10 inches!), followed by her Finn cohort Helina 21.84m (71ft 8 inches). Josephine Farmer edged me out of third on her third throw of 18.13m (59’5”) that I could not surpass on my last and longest throw of 17.11m (56 ’1”). Arrgh! But at least I got 17m. I sporadically hit that. Most times it is 15m or so. Catherine Radle and Mary Robinson got fifth and sixth respectively and still had time to get back to Alachua Sport Center to warm up for their 200m Final. So, next time or next year I shall not have to contend with the heavy hitters in Hammer. But – I see the Mongolian Tserandolga Tumurbat is in that age group Oy! In the 90s, Flo Meioler threw 16.44m.
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| Josephine Farmer |
I must have had a physio appointment at the practice track area. While walking back from the practice track, I saw an athlete in the Ukrainian uniform walking a tiny chihuahua – I think she said 3 months old - with her daughter. I commented on the dog so the woman picked the dog up and handed it to me! Awfully cute and friendly. I also commented that I was glad that Ukraine was here. Really tough times. Imagine bringing a dog from Ukraine! (Or perhaps she is a Ukrainian already living in the US)
I watched Colleen Barney run the prelim and then the 200 Semis. Still recovering from ham issue.
In the 200m Final, it was Carol Lafayette-Boyd 35.51, Maria Magdalena Gasowska 43.44, and Georgia Kightlinger 46.49. Mary Robinson 48.45 and Catherine Radle 48.66 (they battled it out), then Aileen Burgin in 50.45.
This may have been the evening where a group of us sat outside at The Indigo and were joined by Margit Jungmann. We had an enjoyable conversation. Margit is an outstanding lady who does well as WMA President.
Saturday 3/29
I had a 400m semi at 9:30 (why did I sign up for this?) and shot put at 12:30. At least I could spend time at the warm up track by the alligator swimming hole and hope to catch a photo of it.
Ten of us had signed up for the 400, well eight actually showed because Marie-Louise Michelsohn did not show and Georgia Kightlinger was injured so bailed on doing the 400 and chose to get early start home. i only recall that i was dreading this. Mary Smith was competing, despite her concerns about her bone bruise. I think she had been told not to push it too hard, else it might fracture. Nonetheless she still ran 1:37.29. I barely qualified but I did. I was not anticipating having to do a Final. Had either of the no shows run, I would have been out of the Final.
Shot Put went as expected for me. Sixth out of eight. This time Carol Frost threw farther than Rauha so it was one and two for them with a lady from the Czech Republic getting third. In the 90-94, Flo Meiler beat Christel 5.18m to 4.85m. Christel’s arm is limited in throwing since her multiple shoulder replacements. It is amazing what she can do, using half of her throwing arm.
While I was down by Physio afterwards, Michael Jones snuck up on me. He was there to practice for the 60m hurdles - which he won the next day with a time of 9.51. World champion, Michael and I, Rick Pack, and at times Becky Bowman practiced together on closed tracks that we managed to either sneak onto during the pandemic or eventually an open one. Lots of fun. Michael would do his hurdles with Rick Pack videoing and sports broadcaster commenting. Becky and Rick raced each other. Eventually we were legitimately on the Duke track, Erica Charles would show up to practice as we were finishing up.
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| Erica Charles |
Dinner that evening was in celebration of Angela’s daughter Jennifer’s 51st birthday. We went to an island themed place. Angela, Mary Smith, Cora Hill, Barbara Warren and I think Mary Trotto. The usual crew. Nice to get to know Jennifer a bit and it was a good dinner.
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| Michael Jones |
SUNDAY 3/30
I had the 400m Fina at 10:25. There were on six of us (six lane indoor), all USA. This is Mary Smith’s event. She loves it and it is her race of choice. She had been being careful in the prelim not going all out because of her still healing leg bone bruise. Nonetheless, she won it with a time of 1:35.39 followed by Mary Robinson and Willy Moolenaar. I was last with 2:21.97. No surprise.
My last event was the 4x200.relay The team assigned by the US Team Managers and the order in which we ran was Marie-Louise Michelsohn, me, Cora Hill and Mary Smith. Our competition was a Thai W80 team. There were a lot of Thailand women competing in track and they were good. However, with Mary Smith as anchor, there was little doubt. Our team won with a time of 3:34.89. Marie-Louise and Cora built up a lead and Mary finished it off.
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| Michelson Guardino Hill Smith |
For our W75 USA relay team we had, in order of run, Deborah Barchett, Mary Trotto, Barbara Warren, and Norma Hudnall. They also raced a Thai team. The Thais edged them out 3:38.19 to 3:40.83. Mary Robinson and Willy Moolenaar ran in the mixed age group – a first in the Indoor WMA so they set a record.The W80 women ran on a team with William Keesling and Roger Pierce setting the new record at 3:04.07.
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| Willy Moolenaar |
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| Mary Robinson - such focus |
In the W75 Pentathlon Mary Trotto got third, 1153, and Barbara Warren 1110 fourth. W80 winner was Nancy Berger 1172 to hip injured Marina Worsley 491. Marina competed in several events with sone kind of hard core wrap around her hip. Flo Meiler W90’s win was uncontested , 2531.
In the W55 AG relays field of five, the US with Jones, Towle, Colleen Barney, and Kirk got second to Australia 1:52.64 to 2:02.83. In a field of 8 W35 relay teams, Erica Charles ran in the W35 relay – Berry, Giscombe, Liang and Erica got first with a time of 1:44.03 just edging out the old WMA record of 1:44.23!
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| Erica Charles leading for her relay team |
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| Cora Hill Maria Magdalena Gasowka and me |
And so ended our WMA experience. Angela, Mary Trotto, Mary Smith, Christel, and Karen Huff-Pawlik who left early due to an early departure the next day, and some others, ate at the Indigo.
I love these Meets because of the people I can hang out with as well as the great competitions to watch. So lucky to have fallen into this activity.
