MALAGA, Spain -- Team USATF athletes won seven medals on day one of competition at the WMA Championships in Malaga today. The day began with a bang for Team USATF with a sweep in the M65 shot put. World record holder Doug Torbert led from the first round and won with a final distance of 15.23m. Joe Myers took silver at 13.97m and Tim Muller was in bronze medal position at 12.94m.
John Starr, the oldest member of Team USATF took the day's other gold in the M90 5000m race walk with the outstanding time of 39:14.81, smashing the old American M90 record of 43:51.0 set in 1989.
Other medal winners were defending champion Bill Harvey who took bronze in the M70 shot put, Marianne Martino, who also took bronze in the W65 5000m race walk, and Norman Frable who earned bronze the M70 5000m race walk.
Competition continues through Sunday, September 16. The 445 American entrants are the fourth largest contingent behind host Spain, the U.K., and Germany.