Irion and Chantry are masterful at championships in Iowa

 
Virginia results scoreboard

On Sunday (25-Jul) the 2021 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships concluded in Ames, Iowa. USATF Virginia was represented by nine athletes who competed in 21 events.  1051 athletes from 49 states competed during the four days of competition that began on Thursday (22-Jul),

Virginia members won five national titles and a total of 11 championship medals (for finishing in the top three in an event final).
 
The highlights of the meet for the Virginia members were Stephen Chantry, 66, (Williamsburg; Colonial Road Runners) winning two national titles in the M65-69 division and Glenn Irion, 65, (Abingdon) winning the M65-69 High Jump.

Chantry, the 2018 Virginia Athlete of the Year honoree, easily won the 800m (2:36.26, 84.87%) and 1500m (5:18:57, 84.78%).

Irion won the M65-69 High Jump with a clearance of 5-3. The mark scores 95.41% on the age grading scoring tables.  Marks above 90% are considered to be world class.  It was the best score by a Virginia athlete in Ames by 7%.  He also finished second in the Triple Jump with a mark of 31-11½ (80.83%).

Joining Chantry & Irion as gold medal winners were Stanley Peyton, Jr. (Harrisonburg) and Richard Samaha (Williamsburg; Colonial Road Runners). Peyton, 34, won the M30-34 5000m running 17:38.81 (72.66%).  He also finished third in the 1500m (4:20.04, 80.31%) and fourth in the 400m (52.03, 84.87%) and 800m (1:56.54, 81.80%).  Samaha, 63, won the M60-64 2000m Steeplechase running 8:18.22 (83.79%).

Earning a silver medal was Curtis Smith, Jr. of Dumfries.  Smith, 40, finished second in the M40-44 High Jump with a clearance of 5-5¾ (75.38%).  He also earned bronze medals in the Triple Jump (41-10, 74.74%) and Javelin Throw (119-8, 41.81%).  

Rounding out the medal winners was Jason Abbot, 43, of Chesapeake.  Abbot ran a very quick 2:03.50 in finish third in the M40-44 800m.  His age-graded score of 88.50% was the second best turned in by the Virginians in Ames.  He also finished fifth in the 1500m running 4:18.26 (86.24%).

Linda Kelly, 61, of Williamsburg competed in five events finishing fifth in the Shot Put, Discus Throw, and Weight Throw and sixth in the Hammer Throw and Javelin Throw.

Click here to see the complete Virginia results scoreboard.

LOOKING AHEAD

• 2022 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships (July 28-31 in Lexington, KY)
• 2022 USATF Masters Indoor Championships (March 18-20 in New York, NY)