Los Gatos Olympian Sets World Record at Track And Field Masters Nationals

Who says seniors aren't strong?

Los Gatos resident Edward A. Burke, 73, this morning capped an athletics career spanning six decades and three Olympic Games separated by 20 years, by setting an American and world-indoor record in the men’s 70-74-year-old 35 pound, "superweight" throw to open the 2013 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships at Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex in Landover, MD.

The meet continues through Sunday with 10 Olympians and 30 world champions among 1,044 entrants, a record for any U.S. indoor masters track meet.  

Upon making the USA Olympic team in 1984 at age 44 and competing in the hammer throw, Burke was selected to be the USA team flag bearer at the games in Los Angeles, championship officials said in a press release.

Burke was the first ever U.S. Olympian to participate in Olympic Games 20 years apart, after finishing seventh place in the 1964 games in Tokyo, according to the release.

He also won the 1968 USA Olympic Trials hammer throw while nursing a shoulder injury and then represented the USA finishing 12th place in the Mexico City Games, the release stated.    

Burke’s throw of the 35-pound weight was 37 feet, 11½ inches (11.57 meters), eclipsing the previous world indoor record of 34 feet, 9 inches (10.61 meters) set in 2006 by Robert Ward in Boston, Massachusetts, said meet officials.

Earlier Friday morning, Burke just missed the world record in the 16-pound weight throw.

Last summer, Burke smashed the world record in the outdoor 16-pound weight throw.  

Also setting world records during the first morning of competition were Orville Rogers, 95, of Dallas, TX with a time of 2:24 in the 400 meters and Anthony Palazzo, 85 of Providence, Rhode Island with an American record and world best in the 25-pound superweight throw with 20 feet 1¾ inches.

The championship has attracted a record number of 1,044 masters athletes ages 30-95 from 47 states and 14 countries and continues through Sunday afternoon at Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex, the release said.