San Francisco’s Steven Toyoji took second in the men’s 1,500 51/52 class race at the 2014 U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships at College of San Mateo, Sunday June 22.
Photo courtesy of the Eric Sun/Special to The S.F. Examiner
The Pacific Association’s Para Athletics Committee was established in 2012. Prior to 2012, this Committee was referred to as the Disabled Athletes Committee and chaired for many years by Charlie Sheppard. In 2014, under the leadership of the current Chair George Rehmet, and Charlie Sheppard, this committee was responsible for bringing the U.S. Paralympics Track & Field Championships to the Pacific Association.
Para Athletes compete in Track & Field Paralympic events, which include track sprints and distance events, field events of throwing and jumping, and the marathon. Learn more by visiting the Track & Field page of Team USA.
PA/USATF Para Athletics Committee News
► PA 4th Annual Awards Banquet Is Saturday Jan. 27!
USATF Pacific 4th Annual Recognition Awards Banquet
- SAVE THE DATE!: Saturday January 27, 2024
- Time: 4:45pm- 8:00pm
- Registration Form: https://www.simplyregister.net/register/?e=125252
- Registration Status: https://www.simplyregister.net/status/?e=125252
- Deadline to register is THURSDAY, JAN. 25 at Noon.
Refer to the Awards Banquet Webpage for many more details, ongoing updates and news!
► PA BoA Meeting Committee Reports
Committee Reports for our November 2022 Committee Reports.
Next meeting will be Thursday, 1 Dec in Orlando for Annual Meeting participants, and our next General BoA on Tues, 17 January via zoom.
► COACHES Sat. 4 February Coaches SuperClinic registration link posted
Great news!!!! The Athletic.net SuperClinic is returning to William Jessup University (25 miles west of Sacramento) on Saturday, 4 February!
We look forward to hosting you again in 2023!
► PA Timing equipment for sale – bids accepted by 7 August
The Pacific Assoc is selling use timing equipment. Please click on this link: Lynx camera and wireless sensor for sale to review the equipment details and bid procedures. Sale will benefit the Youth Committee’s trailer upgrade.
► TF Women’s Decathlon Champs final results with AR!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 23, 2021 Contact: Fred Baer frdbaer@aol.com m/t: 650.483.3733
“Greatest Woman Athlete” Smashes American Record; Runner-up Has H.S. Best:
JORDAN GRAY PUTS WOMEN’S DECATHLON RECORD OVER 8,000 POINTS
Jordan Gray obliterated her American Record in the women’s decathlon Sunday, running up history’s second highest total of 8,246 points in the Women’s Decathlon Association “National” Championships at College of San Mateo.
The Ball Ground, Ga. resident becomes only the third person to score over 8,000 points in the 10-event competition, which, effectively, determines the “world’s greatest” female athlete.
The world record is 8,358 points by Austra Skujyte of Lithuania in 2005. The only other athlete to ever top the 8K mark was Marie Collonville of France, who set the former world record of 8,150 points in 2004.
Gray added a phenomenal 325 points to the American and Western Hemisphere Records of 7,921 she set in the first Women’s Decathlon Championships in 2019, also at CSM. It is the third American track and field record set on CSM’s international Mondo track facility — as the college begins its 100th season of athletic competition. Kim Kreiner, previously, set an AR in the women’s javelin throw at CSM.
WIND AVERAGE = LEGAL SCORE UNDER CURRENT RULES: Gray’s average wind-reading for the three events affected by wind was 1.4 meters per second, well under the allowable average of 2.0 (according to newer rules). Her competition opening 100 meter time was 11.86 seconds, aided by a 4.6 meters per second wind – the fastest ever under any conditions in a decathlon. Gray’s second day 100 meter hurdles race (timed in 14.43) was intentionally run into a 2.5 mps headwind, still scoring 919 points, to lower the overall meet wind average. (Her personal best is 13.80.) Gray had a 20 foot, 1 inch long jump the first day with legal 2.0 wind assistance – as she tallied the highest ever first day tally by an American, 4,356 points.
Gray, a 2019 Kennesaw State University grad, continued to roll on day two with a discus throw of 130-8 for 652 points. She won the pole vault at 12-10 for 935 points and the javelin throw at 135-0 (689 points), equaling the second best mark by an American in a women’s decathlon. That had been achieved in 1997 by Stacy Dragila (the ex-pole vault world record holder who was a former community college heptathlon star). Gray finished with a 1,500 meter time of 5 minutes, 20.27 seconds, for 697 points to easily surpass the record. .
“The world record wasn’t something I was targeting,” said Gray. “I just wanted to come in and do my best without worrying about it – and get the American record.”
Gray, who was born in Lawenceville, Ga., plans to continue lobbying officials in USA Track & Field and World Athletics to allow women to contest the decathlon, along with the men, in major competitions.
Cash prizes were awarded to the top post-collegiate competitors by the Women’s Decathlon Association and by 3-time local Olympian Pat Daniels Connollly, an Olympic multievent pioneer in the pentathlon (in 1964). She is a former Capuchino High (San Bruno) and CSM student who now resides in Half Moon Bay.
HIGHEST EVER HS TOTAL: Corinn Brewer, an incoming senior at Greensburg (Pa.) Central Catholic, achieved the best ever high school decathlon score, 5,698 points, finishing second in the overall competition. She does not, however, officially break the high school and under age 20 record of 5,676 points — due to her excess wind average (over 2.0) for the competition. Brewer, also a cross country runner at her high school, won the concluding 1,500 meters in a swift 4:59.57 (829 points) – only the sixth ever (second American) to better 5 minutes in a women’s decathlon. That prevented race runner-up Gray from having the leading mark in all ten events.
INTERNATIONAL FIELD: Uxia Pereira of Spain finished fourth in the meet with 5,539 points.
–Only men currently contest the decathlon at the Olympic Games, although the women’s event is an official World Athletics and USATF competition. This competition provided an opportunity to determine the “greatest woman athlete” just two weeks after the Olympics.
National and local level officials from the Pacific Association of USA Track & Field officiated the competition, using laser measurements and national timing services of Sean Laughlin of RecordTiming.
For complete results, see: https://www.rtspt.com/events/usatf/wdec21/
Women’s Dec website: www.womensdecathlonassociation.com
WOMEN’S DECATHLON ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, Presented by Parity, Aug. 21-22, at College of San Mateo. Final scores:
1.Jordon Gray, Ball Ground, Ga., 8,246 points (betters own American record of 7.928, set at CSM, 2029).
- Corinn Brewer, Greensburg (Pa.) Central Catholic H.S., 5,698w (highest ever high school score)
- Hanna McPhee, San Francisco, 5,613.
- Uxia Pereira, Spain, 5,539
- Anna Lee McGregor, San Francisco, 4,598.
- Natalia Quesada Marshall, San Francisco,
All-Time World Women’s Decathlon Performances Over 8,000 Points:
8,358 WR Austra Skujyte, Lithuania, 2005.
8,246 AR Jordan Gray, USA, 2021.
8,150 WR Marie Collonville, France, 2004.
Note: Gray also has the No. 4 all-time performance of 7,921 points, set in her 2019 American Record competition at CSM.
WR = World Record when achieved
AR = American and Area (Continental) Records
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► TF National Wm’s Decathlon Champs at San Mateo this weekend!
“GREATEST WOMAN ATHLETE” NOT DECIDED IN TOKYO;
WOMEN’S DECATHLON CHAMPIOSHIPS SET FOR COL. OF SAN MATEO AUG. 21-22
NOTE: Although the women’s decathlon is an officially recognized World Athletics and USA Track & Field competition, women are not yet allowed to contend for the “world’s greatest woman athlete” title at the Olympic Games. They are currently restricted to the vintage 7-event heptathlon, which was contested in Tokyo two weeks ago.
College of San Mateo, which had student Pat Daniels (Connolly) pioneer women’s multi-event Olympic competition with the pentathlon at the 1964 Tokyo Games, is therefore hosting the only 2021 women’s decathlon championship meet this year. See link to New York Times Story at bottom –for background.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 19, 2021
From/contact: Fred Baer Women’s Decathlon LOC Chair [email protected] 650.483.3733
College Of San Mateo Still the Center of Women’s Multi-Event Competition
WOMEN’S DECATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURN TO CSM AUG. 21-22; AR HOLDER / WORLD LEADER JORDAN GRAY HOPES TO BECOME FIRST AMERICAN TO SCORE 8,000+
The Women’s Decathlon National Championships are returning to College of San Mateo, this Saturday, August 21-22
Click here for a link to start lists, results, event info.
The 2021 Women’s Decathlon Association Championships, presented by Parity, is only the second standalone national meet for women to contest all 10 disciplines of the decathlon, such as the men concluded just two weeks earlier at the Tokyo Olympic Games. The event “routinely” determines a gender’s “greatest athlete.”
Cash prizes will be awarded to the top finishers this weekend. Jordan Gray set an American record of 7,921 points as CSM staged the first formal championship meet on June 22-23, 2019. She plans to defend her title and hopes to become the first American to better 8,000 points.
The Pandemic prevented most competition in 2020. Gray, however, did produce the season’s “world leading” performance of 7,627 points, finally getting into a special competition in Marble Falls, Texas, on Oct. 3-4. She broke her own “world decathlon long jump record, jumping 6.19 meters (20 feet, 3 3/4 inches).
Gray had set the former record of 6.18 while setting an American and North American area decathlon record in the 2019 competition at CSM. She ranks No. 3 all-time in the decathlon and hopes to challenge the world record of 8,358 points, set in 2005 by Austra Skujyte of Lithuania. Gray has already this year improved her individual long jump best significantly to 21 feet, 2 inches.
One international entrant confirmed, Uxia Pereira of Spain. Two early local (San Francisco) entrants are: AnnaLee MacGregor and Hanna McPhee.
Competition begins on Saturday, August 21, at 1 p.m., and at 11 a.m. on Sunday and should run approximately four hours each day.
CSM has long been a USA base for women’s combined events. In 1964 then CSM student Pat Daniels (Connolly) was the first to compete in an Olympic multi-event competition, the pentathlon – as women were finally allowed to contest five events (compared to the 10-event men’s decathlon). She finished seventh.
CURRENTLY WOMEN COMPETE IN ONLY 7-EVENT HEPTATHLON IN OLYMPICS:
Women now compete in the 7-event heptathlon at World and Olympic meets. The women’s decathlon is, however, formally recognized by World Athletics, which maintains lists of annual and all-time performances.
The decathlon adds two key field events for women, the pole vault and the discus throw to the existing menu of long jump, shot put, and javelin throw. The running event program changes from contesting the 200 and 800 meters to running the 100, 400, and 1,500 meters. The hurdles remain for both genders.
Pat Daniels Connolly still lives on the San Francisco Peninsula, in Half Moon Bay. The 3-time Olympian remains an avid supporter of the women’s decathlon. She was one of the youngest women ever to represent the USA in the Olympic Games, competing in the 800 meters in 1960 after her junior year at San Bruno’s Capuchino High School.
This championship meet in Silicon Valley is an open meet for interested qualified athletes. It is certified by USATF for record purposes. USATF Pacific Association officials will conduct the competition.
The Women’s Decathlon Association is staging the meet, in conjunction with partner Parity, a leader in the movement for parity in women’s sports.
For further information, contact meet director Becca Peter, [email protected]. event website: https://womensdecathlonassociation.com/
An Olympic Hurdle: Why Is the Decathlon Only for Men? – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
► PA Proposed assoc Bylaw revisions
In accordance with USATF-Pacific and USATF bylaws, attached are proposed association bylaw revision which will be discussed during the 19 Sept. annual meeting.
Any approved revisions will be made with a second and final reading during the November meeting prior to a vote and possible approval.
Click here for Version 20 revision: PAUSATF ByLaw Revision 20 (2021- 8- 17)
Any questions, email Dave Shrock at [email protected]
► PA USATF Pacific loses Jim Hume – administrator, official, trainer, coach.
Arrangements will be forthcoming. Below is Jim’s bio as written for the First Annual USATF Pacific Awards Banquet, 2019.
Jim Hume has been active in the Pacific Association as an administrator, an official, a trainer, and a coach, for more than the last 50 years.
As an administrator, Jim was the Women’s Statistician in the days before computers. He was the Youth Chair from the mid-‘70s until the mid-‘80s, served as the President of the Board of Athletics from ’82-’85, and has served as the Pacific Association Official’s Certification Chair for most of this century. With the inspiration of Dick Connors and the help of Bruce Colman, Jim has used his computer skills to help produce Turns & Distances, a newsletter from the Pacific Association officials.
In 1979 Jerry Colman asked Jim to accompany him to the Olympic Committee’s Sports Festival as his gopher. Gophering led to becoming the Women’s T&F Travel Coordinator for 13 of the 14 festivals.
In 1983 Jim was selected as the Head Manager for the Women’s Junior Team in the USA vs. Canada, and Italy meets in Canada and New Britain, Connecticut. In 1995 he was the Head manager for the women’s team for the USA vs. Great Britain meet in Newcastle, GB.
As an official, Jim has been active since 1968. He is currently a Master Level official who, since computers became available to run the paperwork part of a meet in the mid/late-80s, has spent most of his time behind a computer as the Competition Secretary. He took his advanced Competition Secretary degree while buried in the basement of the Olympic Stadium during the 1996 Olympics. Jim is a strong supporter of FieldLynx computer software to record/display field event results. In 2004 he headed the FieldLynx crew at the Olympic Trials.
As a coach, Jim worked with the Millbrae Lions Track Club (one of the first women’s track and field clubs) from the late-60s to the late 80s and saw the transition from club only opportunities to school-sponsored opportunities for women to participate. He spent 15 years at Hillsdale High, and in 1997 he was recognized as a CIF-CCS T&F Honor Coach.
Early in Jim’s coaching, teaching, administrating career, he became interested in helping produce well run track meet. This interest and his role as CertChair, has led to Jim’s involvement in training others to run an an efficient track and field meet. He has helped organize and taught at numerous local training clinics. In 2012 he received from the National Officials Committee of the USATF the James Gray Award for Leadership.
As a high school cross country coach since 1986, Jim has been interested in CSM’s Crystal Springs Cross Country Course and since the early-‘90s, had an increasing role in administering the course with Bob Rush.
And all of this was paid for with his job as a school teacher. Jim taught in a reading program at Ben Franklin Middle School for 17 years serving as a classroom teacher, the head of the reading lab, and as the program director. In 1986 the opportunity arose for him to move to Hillsdale High in San Mateo where he taught English, computer use, computer programming and coached cross country and track for 15 years.