Christa Bortignon of the West Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Track & Field Club has set a world record at the age of 81, competing in the pentathlon for women over 80 and gaining 4,838 points at the Canadian Masters Championships. In addition, she’s been inducted in the Canadian Master Athletics Hall of Fame.
To break the record, Bortignon competed in hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and the 800-metre sprint. The previous world record was 4,319 points.
In addition, five NorWesters Track & Field masters competitors ended up on the podium at the event held in Surrey in early August.
Patty Szybunka won gold in the 100-metre sprint in the 60-64 age category and broke the B.C. age-group record. Christopher McKenzie won silver in the 35-39 age category of the 100-metre sprint, and Shauna Bunbury won silver in the 40-44 age category, also in the 100-metre sprint.
Karin Adande won gold in the 100-metre race in the 30-44 age category.
In the 200-metre sprint, Szybunka won gold in the 60-64 age category and broke another B.C. age-group record, while Bunbury won silver in the 40-44 age category and ran a personal best. McKenzie won gold in the 35-39 age category also in the 200-metre sprint.
In long jump, Bunbury won gold in the 40-44 age category and Szybunka won silver in the 60-64 age category.
Ramin Parsakish won bronze in the 55-59 age category of the pentathlon.
In addition to her world record in the pentathlon, Bortignon won medals in triple jump, long jump and the 100-metre sprint. Her 80-metre hurdle time was 20.12, a new Canadian record.
Wayne Lawson, also of the West Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»club, won silver in the male 55-59 year old category in long jump.
Bortignon, who has set numerous age-group world records during her masters career, will be competing in the World Masters Athletic Championships in Malaga, Spain, later this month.
