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The Canadian Champion, Fniday, August 10, 2007 - A21 SPORTS*' SPORTS EDITOR: STEVE LeBLANC e-mail slebIanc@haltonsearch.com ýWhitlock impressive at U.S. National Masters GRAHAM PAINF / CANADIAN CHAMPION SIGNIN' AND SWINGIN': Former Maple Leafs captain Rick Vaive autographs a golf bail and watches his tee shot (inset) at his third annual'celebhty classc n support of Reach for the Rainbow children's chârity Tuesday at Rattlesnake Point Golf Club. Other Leaf alumni taking part were Johnny Bower and Wendel Clark. Ad usttoHomeI Health Care Supplies Ltd. Strong showing despite recent cutback in training By Steve LeBlanc CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Nagging injuries and the inevitable onset of time have severely eut into Ed Whitlock'.s training regiment'this year. But that hasn't eut too deeply into the senior racing phe- cess. Taking his long-distance prowess to the University of Maine last week, the 76- couple of per- that while flot quite up to the world record-settingEd efforts he delivered last summer, weren t too far off. Leaving bis mens 70 to 94-year- old age group in the proverbial dust, Whitlock kicked off the USATF National Masters Championships witb a thoroughly decisive win in the 5,000m - clocking in at 19.54.34. That meet-record finish was just 48 seconds shy of the 75-and-over world standard he established just over a year ago at the Canadian Masters Track and Field Championships in Dieppe, New Brunswick. I was quite happy with that. That was about the time 1 was aiming for," said the always modest and soft-spoken septuagenarian racer, who had a 20.04 showing at this year's Canadians, held recently in Saint John, New Brunswick. It was fairly humid, but that usually affects me less than a lot of other peo- pIe. I was 0K." Slated in the younger 60s" division two days later for the 10,000m, Whitlock would more than hold his own - placing among the top finishers with a 40.41s effort, just over a minute off the world record he set last summer. Remarked the highly-accomplished runner, "That was a good race too. I was quite pleased with my results, seeing as 'm flot in the same shape as last year. My knees haven't been that great mmnd, Whidlock will likely switch gears for next month's Toronto W a t e r fr on t hitIock Marathon - where in recent years hes set t.hree world age- class. records in the marathon. With hopes of adding to, that nom- ber somewhat bleak these days, he expects to give the haif-marathon a n-y - and focus on breaking the unofficial 1:31 world record among his 75 to 79- year-old group that he established this past spring in London. "There's nu official record for the haîf-marathon, but it's something 'd like to improve on and think there's a good chance of doing 50 - as long as there's no more problems hetween now and then." Scooters Wheelchaîrs Reclîners Mffon's LpcaI Source for ail Home Health Gare Product ýri 1 1 lh