The World Masters Athletics Championships wrapped up today in the Spanish city of Malaga with Lions athletes garnering five top-8 finishes over the 12 day event.
The leader of the pack was undoubtedly Kim Ethier, who posted two top-8 finishes. The 50 year old Ethier kicked things off with a fifth place finish in the grueling two day heptathlon. After winning the both the shot put and javelin portions of the competition, Ethier entered the final event in fourth place, but her 800m performance dropped her back a spot as she finished with a total of 4710 points.
While most athletes typically like to rest following a combined events competition, Ethier was right back in to action just four days later as she placed 13th in the high jump. She would return a day later with a seventh place finish in the javelin. Her best throw of 31.11 metres came in the first round. However, she could be forgiven for being a little tired as she had placed 19th in the long jump only minutes before the competition began.
Also making two finals was Ethier’s training partner Leslie Estwick. The former international high jumper was sixth overall in the women’s 55 high jump with a best clearance of 1.32 metres – exactly one centimetre higher than the last worlds. The IT executive also managed a seventh place finish in the 80 metre hurdle final with a time of 14.48 seconds. She also finished 14th in the long jump.
Serge Faucher waited till the final day to nab his top eight finish. A Major in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Faucher teamed up with Markus Skeete, Paul Osland, and Michael Sherrar today to place fifth in the M50 4 x 400 metre relay. The quartet finished third in their heat of the timed final with a clocking of 3:44.79. It was questionable as to whether Faucher would compete today after he qualified second out of his 400 metre heat, but did not start the semi-final.
Also of note at the championship, Wendy Alexis had to pull out of the event prior to her 100m semi-final due to the re-emergence of a hamstring injury. A multiple medalist at the World Masters Championships, Alexis was again a favourite to be on the podium in both the 100 and 200 metre events.
