Clark, Genzel, Ostwald, Sayre Podium at Masters 12 km Championships in New Jersey

Colorado Results

On Sunday (17-September) six (6) athletes from Colorado competed in the USATF Masters 12 km Championships in Highlands, NJ. The championship, hosted by the By Hook or By Crook 12K for the third straight year, was the ninth, and penultimate, race in the 2023 USATF National Masters Grand Prix. A total of 273 athletes (167 men and 106 women) competed in the championships; ranging in age from 40 to 86.

Four of the six Coloradans that competed earned trips to the awards podium for finishing in the top three in their age division; with two of them winning national titles. All six turned in national class performances with scores over 85% on the age grading tables*.

Winning national titles were Roger Sayre (men 65-69) of Golden and Robbie Genzel (men 45-49) of Colorado Springs. Sayre captured the 65-69 title as he stopped the clock at 45:38; over five minutes ahead of runner-up Michael Lebold of California. Sayre's time scored 90.6% on the age grading tables; a world class performance, which was the sixth best men's score on the day.

In a close finish amongst the top three finishers in the men's 45-49 division, Genzel ran 40:27 (88.4%) to capture his first national title. Aaron Totten-lancaster of New Jersey finished just eight seconds back in 40:35 and David Angell of Virginia just six more seconds back in 40:41.

Kristine Clark, 60, of Salida and Gary Ostwald, 77, of Denver each ran to runner-up finishes in their respective age divisions. Clark finished second in the highly competitive women's 60-64 division as she stopped the clock at 49:26; just 11 seconds behind Suzanne La Burt of New York. Clark's time was just 32 seconds off the world and American record of 48:54 set by Kathryn Martin in 2014. Her age graded score of 93.3% was the seventh best women's score on the day and the best amongst the Coloradans. Finishing fifth in the division was Inge McClory, 60, of Boulder in a time of 54:09 (85.2%).

Ostwald earned his silver medal in the men's 75-79 division running 55:12 (86.9%). The division was won by Gene Dykes of Pennsylvania in a time of 50:50 (91.5%).

In the men's 60-64 division, Jay Littlepage, 64, of Boulder finished eighth running 47:33 (86.2%).
 

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