World Masters Champs in Málaga – It’s a wrap

Seven Heathsiders ventured out to Málaga in southern Spain in early September for the World Masters Championships, bringing back three medals plus pride, satisfaction, and memories of a great experience.

The athletes: Dan Johns (V40), Andy Barnes (V35), Liam Hazelton (V35), Adrian Essex (V65), Ivan Ross (V40), Ula Cartwright-Finch (V35), Sue Rust (V35)

The events: decathlon, 400m, 800m, 1500m, cross-country, half marathon, 10k, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay

The gist: It was a great experience – both the taking part and the spectating, in particular in the non-stadia events. All those athletes in their national kit, of all mature ages, all aiming to be as competitive as they can … it’s quite something.

A bit of trivia: The oldest competitor, apparently, was 102. Thirty-three records were broken in Málaga during the Worlds: 57.26s for the 400m when you’re 71, anyone?

Get involved: Stay happy and healthy so you can keep on blowing out those birthday candles (you have to be V35 to compete but there’s no upper age limit) and keep on running, throwing and/or jumping. Join a Vets club in addition to London Heathside, buy your GB kit and then size up the competition (calendar). The next major international masters competitions are the world indoors in Torun, Poland, March 24-30, 2019; the European outdoors in Venice (nice), Sep 5-15, 2019; and the world outdoor champs in Toronto, Canada, Jul 20- Aug 1, 2020.

Heathsiders in Málaga, the low-down: Seven Heathsiders went to Málaga, in southern Spain, for the World Masters Championships, which were held roughly over a two week period in early September (4-16). Still hot, but a lot more bearable than it would have been in that part of the world any earlier in the summer.

Week one

Ivan was the first of the Heathside gang to compete, with the M40 decathlon unfolding over the first two days of the competition at Carranque, one of the four main venues. Sporting Ireland kit, Ivan scored a total of 4,317 points to finish 18th out of 27th in his age category. In the process he achieved a PB of 3.10m in the pole vault, which you can see here (requires Facebook log-in).

Next up to compete was Sue, who took part in the 8km (more like 7km) cross-country race that encompassed the W35-W50 age groups. With no mud in sight, this fairly technical race twisted and weaved its way up and down through a lovely sun-kissed pine forest – but felt no less strength-sapping than a cross-country race in the British winter. After fending off some pre-race doubts about her current state of fitness Sue got stuck in, taking off at a measured pace that allowed her – with a sigh of relief – to reel in a few W35s on her way round the four lap course. In the end she finished 13th out of 21 in her age category, scoring third for a strong GB team and thus winning a team World silver medal. Result! Poland got gold, Spain bronze.

Adrian, who for a two-year period until not long before the Worlds had been the double decathlon world champion and world record holder, had an excellent time in Màlaga, competing in the decathlon, the 400m, and the 4x100m and 4 x400m relays. It all started with the V65 decathlon on the third day of the championships, with Adrian racking up more than 6,000 points for a personal best over the two-day event.

Week two

Less than 24 hours after arriving in Málaga and getting himself registered and sorted, Andy raced the 10k, finishing first for Gran Bretaña in his age group in a time of 35:15. Not a PB, but his best time over the distance this year by more than 10s, and that with the humidity to deal with, too. That was a factor one week later, too, when he and Liam ran the half-marathon on the last day of the competition, finishing in around 1:19 and 1:32, respectively, in 25 degree heat in the main Málaga stadium. The GB M35 team won bronze in the half marathon, although unfortunately that was without Andy and Liam as they were outside the three to score.

After presumably having a bit of a rest after his decathlon, Adrian returned to action in the second week of the Masters, qualifying for the semi-final of the 400m. With a time of 1:03.17 he missed out on the final by only a quarter of a second. He won silver and bronze medals, however, as part of the M65 GB 100m and 400m relay teams. He recounts the relays vividly here or see below, and you can see a video of the 4x400m here  (requires Facebook log-in).

Middle distance in Málaga

Dan opened Heathside’s middle distance efforts at the World Masters with the men’s V40 800m heats. After enjoying the international atmosphere in the call room and making several friends, Dan seized what would be his last 800m of the season with vim and raced his socks off. Cannily chasing an Irish runner he had clocked at other events this season, Dan crossed the line in 2:06.98. Just fractions of a second off his PB, this was a tremendous effort after a disrupted season’s training. A brave run and an excellent effort!

Next up was the women’s V35 800m semi-final, which demanded some more tactical racing on Ula's part. Luckily she kept her head (or just ran slowly) while the three Spanish athletes she chased down over the two laps spunked it in the over-excitement of a world stage in front of the home crowd. Who can blame them? Delighted with an impressive tactical race, Ula was rewarded with one of the spots for automatic qualification. The final (less than 18 hours later…) was more of a shock. The majority of the field blazed off at blow-up pace and the leading pack took the bell in 64/65. Ula reports: “I was so happy and relaxed on the start line, I forgot it would be really hard.” However, her typical conservative approach meant a strong finish, a SB of 2:19.18 and a very respectable 7th.

Four days later, the 1500m kicked off again with Dan in the V40 heats at the main stadium. Showing no sign of fear, Dan took the race on marvellously over the 3.75 laps of the beautiful, bright blue track. The standard of the men’s heats was very impressive but Dan shot off undeterred, hot on the heels of another Irish runner. With more left in the tank at the end, Dan had a fantastic run, finishing even closer to his PB over the 1500m with a time of 4:27.79. With some consistent training, the sky is the limit. Or possibly the semi-finals.

Ula followed minutes later with the V35 1500m semi-final. The competition was going to be very stiff and there was little hope of Ula running a scorcher as she’d been hit with a shocking migraine on the day of the race. She was therefore surprised and delighted (after some initial tears at the prospect of having to go through it all again 18 hours later...) at scraping qualification as one of the slowest losers. With her health still very much sub-par going into the final, Ula was happy just to execute her race plan of "holding on at the back and not dying”. It was never going to be a fast time given the circumstances - including a very slow tactical race by the front-runners - so Ula thoroughly enjoyed the experience instead and crossed the line in 4:48.70, just behind the 800m bronze medallist.

[Sadly the women’s V35 4 x 400m team was withdrawn due to injury. Ula was sad about this for 5 or 6 seconds before she realised that this meant her end of season break would begin a few hours early. It felt just like winning.]

Adrian Essex & team GB in the M65 relays

In case you missed it on Facebook, here’s Adrian’s account of the M65 4x400m and 4 x100m relays on the last day of the World Masters Champs:

“We had the same M65 team down for both, Simon Barrett, Wally Franklyn, me and Steve Peters, but Wally had a bad run in the 4 x 100m and we came second, so Wally pulled out of the 400m. Up stepped Graham Webster, not a 400m specialist, who'd already run a half marathon in the morning, to take Wally's place. Huge respect and thanks to him for making up the team. The video [in the FB post] starts with me standing forlornly waiting to take over the baton as we bring up the rear at 600m, but Simon overtakes the Pole and I set off after the Australians, and damn near catch the Spanish as well. Steve Peters on the last leg already had gold medals in 100, 200 and 400 metres and made short work of bringing home the bronze. Regrettably the USA and Germany were well away.” 

The results

M65 Decathlon
5th Adrian Essex

100m 13.70
 834

Long Jump 4.22
675 1.509

Shot Put 9.20
 637 2.146

High Jump 1.30
 627 2.773

400m 1:05.55
 753 3.526

100h 19.46
 644 4.17

Discus 26.66
 485 4.655

Pole Vault 1.85
 323 4.978

Javelin 27.99
 496 5.474

1.500m 6:36.29
 569

Result 6,043

M65 400m
Heats 2nd Adrian Essex 1:02.83
Semi-final 6th Adrian Essex 1:03.17

M40 Decathlon
18th Ivan Ross

100m 13.64

Long jump 4.78

SP 7.95

High jump 1.45

400m 58.90

100h 20.74

Discus 18.91
 
PV 3.10 (PB)

Javelin 30.27

1.500m 5:09.79

Total points 4,317

W35 8km cross-country
13th Sue Rust 33:32

M35 10k road race
22nd Andy Barnes 35:15

M40 800m heats
Dan Johns 2:06.98

M40 1500m heats
Dan Johns 4:27.79

W35 800m final
7th Ula Cartwright Finch 2.19.18

W35 1500m final
14th Ula Cartwright-Finch 4:48:50

M35 Half-marathon
17th Andy Barnes 1:19:30
41st Liam Hazleton 1:32:40

M65 4x100m relays
1. USA 51.15
2. GB & NI 51.63
3. Germany 52.45

M65 4x400m relays
1. USA 4:04.78
2. Germany 4:18.44
3. GB & NI 4:30.42