# 1975 World Association of Veteran Athletes Championships

43°39′13″N 79°35′04″W﻿ / ﻿43.653611°N 79.584444°W﻿ / 43.653611; -79.584444﻿ (Centennial Park Stadium)
1975 World Association of Veteran Athletes Championships is the first in a series of World Outdoor Championships (also called World Masters Track and Field Championships).
The first international athletics (track and field) competitions for older athletes had taken place in 1972, when the United States Masters International Track Team (USMITT) and the Canadian Masters International Track Team (CMITT) organized a tour of Europe along with Australian and European athletes. $^{:18}$ $^{:45}$ $^{:62}$ The minimum age limit for this tour was 40 years, all men, with athletes divided into 10-year age groups called Veterans (now called Masters). $^{:65}$ This tour was called the "Olympic Tour" since it coincided with the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
Following the success of this tour, the CMITT organized the first Championships in this series under the sponsorship of Canadian National Exhibition (CNE).
$^{:46}$ $^{:145}$ This inaugural Championships took place in Toronto, Canada, from 11 to 16 August 1975.
The main venue was Centennial Park Stadium in the Etobicoke district of Toronto, $^{:145}$ $^{:73}$ while Cross Country was held in Sunnybrook Park.
The minimum age limit was 40 years for men and 35 years for women for this first Championships, with age groups of 5-year divisions for men and 10-year divisions for women. $^{:145}$ Younger athletes competed in the age group 30-39: Class 0 for men and Class 0W for women.
In meetings at the University of Toronto during the competitions, the World Association of Veteran Athletes (WAVA) was proposed as a governing body to organize future Championships in the series. $^{:165}$ $^{:46}$ A Local Organising Committee (LOC) would work in coordination with WAVA in running the Championships; the 1975 LOC was CMITT led by Don Farquharson,
$^{:145}$ $^{:46}$ Farquharson would be elected WAVA president during General Assembly at the 1977 Championships. $^{:166}$ $^{:47}$
WAVA was renamed World Masters Athletics (WMA) at the 2001 Championships in Brisbane, Australia.
In addition to a full range of track and field events,
non-stadia events included 10K Cross Country, 25K Race Walk, and Marathon. $^{:145}$

## Controversy

The Canadian government attempted to ban South African and Rhodesian athletes due to the apartheid policy of their governments at that time, threatening to withdraw financial support if those athletes participated. $^{:164}$ After much discussion, those athletes were allowed to compete as individuals and not as members of the South Africa national team. A 5-member Yugoslavia team pulled out in protest of the South Africans participation. Anne McKenzie was a notable South African athlete, winning 4 gold medals. $^{:166}$

## Results

Past Championships results are archived at WMA.
Additional archives are available from Museum of Masters Track & Field
as a pdf book.
With over 1,400 individual participants and 5,000 starts, this claimed to be the largest track and field meet ever held in North American to that point in time.
Among the notable performances, Jack Greenwood, Al Guidet, and Theo Orr had 4 victories, and Norm Bright had 3. Bright would suffer a car accident in 1978 that caused near blindness, but he would continue to compete in the Championships at least until 1981.
Results for 1975 are from Museum of Masters Track & Field pdf book unless otherwise noted.
World records are indicated by WR .
| Event | Age Group | Athlete Name | Country | Time |
| 100 meters |
| | M30 | G. Paton | United States | 10.8 (+1.8) |
| | M40 | Thane Baker | United States | 11.1 (+3.8) |
| | M45 | Jack Greenwood | United States | 11.6 (NWI) |
| | M50 | Richard Stolpe | United States | 11.7 (+3.1) |
| | M55 | Al Guidet | United States | 12.1 (+2.1) |
| | M60 | Yngve Brange | Sweden | 12.9 (+2.0) |
| | M65 | John Caruso | United States | 13.6 (+3.0) |
| | M70 | Winfield McFadden | United States | 14.6 (+2.3) |
| | W30 | A Parish | United States | 13.2 (+2.3) |
| | W40 | C. Payne | United Kingdom/England | 12.3 (+2.4) |
| | | 3. Irene Obera | United States | 12.5 |
| | W50 | Anne McKenzie | South Africa | 14.9 (+2.3) |
| 200 meters |
| | M30 | Reginald Austin | Australia | 22.1 (+0.5) |
| | M40 | Manfred Garbisch | West Germany | 22.7 (-0.6) |
| | M45 | Jack Greenwood | United States | 23.8 (+0.1) |
| | M50 | Richard Stolpe | United States | 24.7 (-1.5) |
| | M55 | Al Guidet | United States | 25.3 (-3.9) |
| | M60 | Fritiof S. Sjöstrand$^{:167}$ | United States | 27.2 (-3.0) |
| | M65 | Ken Carnine | United States | 29.6 (-1.8) |
| | M80 | Fritz Schreiber | Sweden | 44.7 (-1.0) |
| | M85 | Duncan MacLean$^{:42}$$^{:46}$$^{:65}$$^{:203}$ | United Kingdom/Scotland | 49.2 (-1.0) |
| | M90 | Charles Speechley | United Kingdom/England | 53.3 (-1.0) |
| 400 meters |
| | M40 | Manfred Garbisch | West Germany | 50.7 |
| | M45 | Don Cheek | United States | 52.9 |
| | M50 | Richard Stolpe | United States | 55.1 |
| | M55 | Al Guidet | United States | 57.4 |
| | M60 | Fritiof S. Sjöstrand$^{:167}$ | United States | 1:00.2 |
| | M65 | C. Kline | United States | 1:05.8 |
| | W30 | A. Parish | United States | 1:03.0 |
| | W40 | C. Mill | New Zealand | 58.9 |
| | W50 | Anne McKenzie | South Africa | 1:05.8 |
| 800 meters |
| | M30 | W. Stewart | United States | 1:55.0 |
| | M40 | L. Means | United States | 2:00.2 |
| | | 5. Ed Whitlock | Canada | 2:01.3 |
| | M45 | L. Vagsmyr | Norway | 2:02.6 |
| | M50 | Bill Fitzgerald | United States | 2:01.9 WR |
| | M55 | J. Stevens | Australia | 2:21.3 |
| | M60 | Rıza Maksut İşman | Turkey | 2:23.9 |
| | M65 | Norm Bright | United States | 2:27.2 |
| 1500 meters |
| | M30 | W. Stewart | United States | 3:58.9 |
| | M40 | A. Thomas | Australia | 3:59.5 |
| | | 4. Ed Whitlock | Canada | 4:02.5 |
| | M45 | A. Hughes | United Kingdom/England | 4:15.3 |
| | M50 | B. Fitzgerald | United States | 4:23.4 |
| | M55 | O. Evland | Sweden | 4:48.9 |
| | M60 | A. Andberg | United States | 5:01.3 |
| | M65 | Norm Bright | United States | 4:59.8 WR |
| | M70 | Harold Chapson | United States | 5:35.5 |
| | W30 | S. Kieffer | United States | 4:43.2 |
| | W40 | W. Klopfer | United States | 5:05.7 |
| | W50 | Anne McKenzie | South Africa | 5:07.3 |
| 3000 meters |
| | M40 | A. Thomas | Australia | 8:26.8 |
| | M45 | A. Hughes | United Kingdom/England | 9:11.8 |
| | M50 | Theo Orr | Australia | 9:22.2 WR |
| | M55 | J. Gilmour | Australia | 9:28.0 |
| | M60 | William Andberg | United States | 10:46.9 WR |
| | M65 | Merv Jenkinson | Australia | 10:52.0 |
| | | 2. Norm Bright | United States | 11.14.0 |
| 5000 meters |
| | M40 | Roy Fowler | United Kingdom/England | 14:52.0 |
| | M45 | B. Jernhester | Sweden | 16:25.0 |
| | M50 | Theo Orr | Australia | 16:41.0 |
| | M55 | J. Gilmour | Australia | 17:02.0 |
| | M60 | R. McMinnis | United Kingdom/England | 18:26.4 |
| | M65 | T. Jensen | Sweden | 19:04.2 |
| | W30 | Susie Buchanan | United States | 18:48.4 |
| | W40 | Dorothy Stock | United States | 19:26.4 |
| | | 2. Toshiko D'Elia | United States | 19:26.8 |
| | W50 | Anne McKenzie | South Africa | 19:33.4 |
| 10000 meters |
| | M30 | E. Fry | United States | 30:42.2 |
| | M40 | Roy Fowler | United Kingdom/England | 31:19.6 |
| | M45 | R. Franklin | United Kingdom/England | 34:01.6 |
| | M50 | Theo Orr | Australia | 34:09.0 |
| | | 2. Jim O'Neil | United States | 34:24.2 |
| | M55 | F.G. McGrath | Australia | 34:05.4 |
| | M60 | R. McMinnus | United Kingdom/England | 38:17.0 |
| | M65 | T. Jensen | Sweden | 39:16.0 |
| 110 meters hurdles |
| | M40 | Léopold Marien | Belgium | 14.7 (+1.3) WR |
| | M45 | Jack Greenwood | United States | 15.6 (+1.4) |
| | M50 | A. Findeli | France | 15.9 (+0.6) WR |
| | M55 | Burl Gist | United States | 18.9 (+0.8) |
| | M60 | G. Braceland | United States | 20.2 (+1.2) |
| | M65 | R. Lacey | United States | 23.0 (+0.7) |
| 400 meters hurdles |
| | M40 | G. Shapiro | United Kingdom/England | 1:00.0 |
| | M45 | Jack Greenwood | United States | 57.8 |
| | M50 | Wal Sheppard | Australia | 1:05.3 WR |
| | M55 | Al Guidet | United States | 1:07.9 |
| | M60 | G. Braceland | United States | 1:12.9 |
| | M65 | R. Lacey | United States | 1:24.5 |
| 3000 meters steeplechase |
| | M40 | Hal Higdon | United States | 9:16.6 |
| | M45 | B. Jernhester | Sweden | 10:28.0 |
| | M50 | Theo Orr | Australia | 10:36.6 |
| | M55 | O. Elvland | Sweden | 11:43.6 |
| | M60 | Robert Boal | United States | 12:33.6 |
| | M65 | Norm Bright | United States | 12:24.8 |
| High Jump |
| | M40 | S. Pettersson | Sweden | 1.95 |
| | M45 | Ed Austin | United States | 1.65 |
| | M50 | G.A. Bartlett | Australia | 1.58 |
| | M55 | Burl Gist | United States | 1.58 |
| | M60 | I. Hume | Canada | 1.45 |
| | M65 | A. Reiser | West Germany | 1.30 |
| Pole Vault |
| | M40 | Walter Kostric | Canada | 4.42 |
| | | 2. Phil Mulkey | United States | 3.90 |
| | | 3. Dave Tork | United States | 3.90 |
| | M45 | Roger Ruth | Canada | 4.27 |
| | | 2. Jerry Donley | United States | 3.65 |
| | M50 | D. Brown | United States | 3.25 |
| | | Unofficial Boo Morcom | United States | 4.00 |
| | M55 | Jim Vernon | United States | 3.40 |
| | M60 | I. Hume | Canada | 2.80 |
| | M65 | R. MacConaghy | United States | 2.45 |
| Long Jump |
| | M40 | Dave Jackson | United States | 6.37 |
| | M45 | Shirley Davidson | United States | 6.52 |
| | M50 | Boo Morcom | United States | 5.57 |
| | M55 | Gordon Farrell | United States | 4.98 |
| | M60 | H. Schneider | West Germany | 4.89 |
| | M65 | John Caruso | United States | 3.93 |
| Triple Jump |
| | M40 | Dave Jackson | United States | 13.63 |
| | M45 | V. Guardia | Venezuela | 12.76 |
| | M50 | G. Bartlett | Australia | 11.00 |
| | M55 | Gordon Farrell | United States | 10.79 |
| | M60 | I. Hume | Canada | 10.45 WR |
| | M65 | John Caruso | United States | 8.57 |
| Shot Put |
| | M40 | E. R. McComas | United States | 16.23 |
| | M45 | J. Pavelich | Canada | 12.53 |
| | M50 | Hermann Hombrecher | West Germany | 17.56 WR |
| | | 3. Bill Bangert | United States | 15.03 |
| | M55 | N. Heard | United States | 13.59 |
| | M60 | Konstanty Maksimczyk | United Kingdom England | 11.96 |
| | M65 | T. Resell | Norway | 10.14 |
| | M70 | F. Posluschni | West Germany | 12.15 |
| Discus Throw |
| | M40 | E. R. McComas | United States | 49.90 |
| | M45 | S. Duplessis | South Africa | 45.02 |
| | M50 | Kauko Jouppila | Finland | 51.62 |
| | | 4. Bill Bangert | United States | 41.48 |
| | M55 | T. McDermott | United States | 40.78 |
| | | 2. Dan Aldrich | United States | 40.72 |
| | M60 | Konstanty Maksimczyk | United Kingdom England | 42.76 |
| | M65 | Ken Carnine | United States | 32.30 |
| | M70 | S. Herrmann | United States | 33.08 |
| Hammer Throw |
| | M40 | A. Payne | United Kingdom/England | 63.22 |
| | M45 | T. Mullins | Australia | 53.34 |
| | M50 | D. Vanhegan | United Kingdom/England | 40.76 |
| | M55 | T. McDermott | United States | 39.52 |
| | M60 | J. Fraser | United Kingdom/Scotland | 44.50 WR |
| | M65 | A. Reiser | West Germany | 32.92 |
| Javelin Throw |
| | M40 | B. Conley | United States | 62.78 |
| | M45 | H. Werner | Canada | 54.56 |
| | M50 | R. Mikelsons | Canada | 47.34 |
| | M55 | B. Morales | United States | 48.40 |
| | | 2. Dan Aldrich | United States | 45.24 |
| | M60 | Chuck McMahon | United States | 37.80 |
| | M65 | R. MacConaghy | United States | 34.58 |
| | | 2. Ken Carnine | United States | 32.30 |
| 10K Cross Country |
| | M40 | Roy Fowler | United Kingdom/England | 32:52 |
| | | 3. Hal Higdon | United States | 34:06 |
| | M45 | A. Taylor | Canada | 34:50 |
| | M50 | M. VandeWattyne | Belgium | 36:53 |
| | M55 | B. Borman | United States | 39:10 |
| | M60 | R. McMinnis | United Kingdom/England | 41:03 |
| | M65 | T. Jensen | Sweden | 42:08 |
| | M70 | K. Carlsson | Norway | 48:02 |
| | W45 | Dorothy Stock | United States | 45:07 |
| | W50 | Ruth Anderson | United States | 46:11 |
| Marathon |
| | M40 | E. Austin | United Kingdom/England | 2:28:23 |
| | M45 | A. Walsham | United Kingdom/England | 2:29:53 |
| | M50 | L. Carlsohn | Sweden | 2:45:55 |
| | M55 | F. McGrath | Australia | 2:40:44 |
| | M60 | Gordon Porteous | United Kingdom/Scotland | 2:51:17 WR |
| | M65 | E. Laiho | Finland | 3:49:08 |
| | | 3. Walt Stack | United States | 3:53:13 |
| | M70 | G. Vang | Norway | 4:02:55 |