Tatyana Pozdnyakova owns the fastest 8K time (26:41) of any person fifty years and older

Shamrock Sportsfest, Tatyana Pozdnyakova and world Masters records have become synonymous
Two years ago, at age 48, Ukrainian Pozdnyakova of Gainesville, FL ran a remarkable 25:56 at Shamrock to break the world Masters (ages 40-and-over) 8K record, while also setting a world 45-49 age group record. She slowed slightly to 26:04 last year, then turned 50 this year on March 4, ran the Los Angeles Marathon in a world 50-54 age group record 2:31:05 two days later, than flew up to Virginia Beach for the 33rd annual Shamrock Sportsfest.

Like clockwork, Pozdnyakova smashed the previous 8K record for women 50-54 (28:55 by Shirley Matson of California in 1991) by more than two minutes, running a 26:41 to place fifth overall in the women's division and first Masters. The next female Masters in the 8K was Maria Spinnler of Hagerstown in 29:54. Spinnler has competed at Shamrock as an elite runner every year since 1989. Shamrock also has the world Masters record for men (23:13 by Nick Rose of Great Britain in 1992), and has three U.S. Masters five-year age-group records--Bill Rodgers (24:41, men 45- 49 in 1993), Norm Green (28:07, men 60-64 in 1993) and Ed Benham (36:35, men 80-84 in 1989).

When the Shamrock 8K started growing rapidly in its early years, a decision was made to split the 8K into two races--an open 8K for runners 39-and-over, and a Masters 8K for those 40-and-over, but with equal prize money for each race ($1,000-600-400-300- 200), and that has created a tradition of Masters running excellence. When current race directors Jerry and Amy Frostick took over the race in 2003, they decided to re-combine the two 8K races into one (possible now due to computer chip timing systems), but kept the Masters prize money structure the same.

The men's Masters competition was again intense. After national- class performers John Tuttle of Villa Rica, GA (25:39) and Mike Egle of Glenview, IL (25:54), a multitude of area Masters elite crossed the new oceanfront finish line on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk--Rob Hinkle of Williamsburg (26:32), Greg Cauller of York, PA (26:35), Mark Malander of Oak Hill (26:41), just-turned- 40 Rodney Timpson of Rosedale, MD (27:14), Steven Menzies of Langley AFB (27:23), Dave Berardi of Baltimore (27:44) and 50+ winner Stephen Chantry of Williamsburg (27:57).

In the men's 8K, four Kenyans sprinted together to the finish, separated by just three seconds--Eric Chirchir (23:37), defending champion Patrick Nthiwa (23:37), Nicholas Kurgat (23:38) and Wilson Komen of Washington, DC (23:40). Dave Berdan, 23, of York, PA, led the Kenyans for two miles, before settling for fifth overall ($200) and first American ($250) in 24:10.

The women's 8K was won by another Ukrainian, Tetyana Hladyr, in 25:49, with former Villanova runner Ann McGranahan of Newport, VA (married to Virginia Tech track and cross country coach Ben Thomas) second in 26:30 ($600 open and $250 U.S. prize money). Genet Gebregiorgis of Ethiopia and Washington, DC was seventh in 27:39, while Emily Richard of Washington, DC was eighth in 28:34 ($100 for 3rd US).

The Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon had two surprise winners--Matt Bozung, 27, of Haslett, MI in 2:31:37, and Megan Burns, 41, of Virginia Beach (2:58:28). The race continues to grow, with a two- person marathon relay added in 2004. This year's event broke the 7,000-entrant barrier for the first time, with 1,494 finishers in the marathon, 81 finishers in the marathon walk, 263 two- person team finishers in the marathon relay, and 3,190 finishers in the 8K, for a total of 5,290 finishers.

Full Results

Check out the top times for at Best of 2005- with state, national, and world records - updated weekly