RICK LEE STRIKES GOLD FOUR TIMES AT THE PAN AMERICAN MASTERS TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS THREE OTHER SHORE A.C. ATHLETES ALSO CLAIM GOLD MEDALS

 Rick Lee, the 62 year old masters distance ace for the Shore A.C. claimed four gold medals
at this year’s Pan American Masters Track & Field Champions which were held in Cleveland,
Ohio, July 13-21.  Top athletes from North American, South America, Canada and a variety
of 70 other countries participated in this year’s event.  Lee ran in four events, winning the
1500 meters in 4:38.48, the 2000 meter Steeplechase in 7:27.38, the 5k in 17:49.60
and the half marathon in 1:22:25.66.  In addition to winning the 60-64 title, he also finished
third overall in the half marathon.   He won by large margins in each of his 60-64 races,
and his time in the Steeplechase was just seconds short of the American record in the
60-64 age group set by the great Nolan Shaheed of California a number of years ago.
 
Dr. Ivan Black, the club’s masters great sprinter/jumper specialist, 76, cruised to wins in
the 80 medal hurdles (18:49), The long jump (11’ 5”), and the triple jump (25’ 83/4”),
as well as winning a close silver medal in the 100 meter meters in 16.78 all in
the 75-79 age group.  Another runner in the 75-79 age group who did well was
Dr. Harry Nolan.  He led wire to wire to win the 800 meter run in 3:15.94.  Over the
two previous days, the 77 year old, who was coming off a minor case of pneumonia
a few weeks before, had landed second places in both the 1500 meter (7:06.53)
and the 2000 meter Steeplechase (10:52.60).
 
The clubs top octogenarian, Rob O’Rourke, 81, who was recovering from a minor
hamstring issue, limited his running to the 800 meter.  Despite limited training over
the last few weeks, he came through by winning the 80-84 race in a quick 3:18.64.
Former Shore A.C. runner Christie Patla, running in the 50-54 age group landed a
fifth place in the 5k race in 24:15.07, a day after placing in the triathlon event.