Nadine O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Nadine O'Connor is a grandmother, retired mathematics teacher and a world record
setting, hall of fame Masters Track and Field
athlete. While she specializes in the pole vault, due to her athletic training, she also holds the World Masters Athletics
world records
in the 100 metres, 200 metres, the Indoor 60 metres and 200 metres. She also holds the American record
in the long jump, 80 metre hurdles, 300 metre hurdles and pentathlon.
, O'Connor continues to improve. Her current world record of 3.19 metres in the W65 pole vault is so exceptional that it is superior to the record for athletes more than ten years her junior. In the women's rankings, she is 76 cm (about 2 and a half feet) above the next best performer in her age group, a beamonesque margin. It would also rate her in the top 25 performers in the Men's division, a situation unheard of in any other event. Even O'Connor herself did not jump as high when she was setting records in those younger divisions. She has already jumped higher than her world record, unofficially in her private practice facility near San Diego.
in 2007. She has been named USATF Female Masters Athlete of the year in 2005 and 2006 and USATF Athlete of the Week, out of athletes of all divisions and genders, three times
Masters Athletics World Records
These are the current world records in the various age groups of Masters athletics. Starting at age 35, each age group starts on the athlete's birthday in years that are evenly divisible by 5 and extends until the next such occurrence. For record purposes, older athletes are not included in...
setting, hall of fame Masters Track and Field
Masters athletics (track and field)
Masters athletics is a class of the sport of athletics for veteran athletes in the events of track and field, road running and cross country running. The competitions feature five-year age groups beginning at age 35. Men as old as 104 and women in their 100s have competed in running, jumping and...
athlete. While she specializes in the pole vault, due to her athletic training, she also holds the World Masters Athletics
World Masters Athletics
World Masters Athletics is the worldwide governing body for the sport of masters athletics – which includes track and field, cross country, and road running events – as participated by people over 35 years of age....
world records
Masters Athletics World Records
These are the current world records in the various age groups of Masters athletics. Starting at age 35, each age group starts on the athlete's birthday in years that are evenly divisible by 5 and extends until the next such occurrence. For record purposes, older athletes are not included in...
in the 100 metres, 200 metres, the Indoor 60 metres and 200 metres. She also holds the American record
United States records in masters athletics
These are the current American records in the various age groups of masters athletics. Starting at age 35, each age group starts on the athlete's birthday in years that are evenly divisible by 5 and extends until the next such occurrence. For record purposes, older athletes are not included in...
in the long jump, 80 metre hurdles, 300 metre hurdles and pentathlon.
Pole vault
Coached by her partner, Olympian Bud HeldBud Held
Franklin Wesley Held is an American athlete who competed primarily in the javelin.-College career:...
, O'Connor continues to improve. Her current world record of 3.19 metres in the W65 pole vault is so exceptional that it is superior to the record for athletes more than ten years her junior. In the women's rankings, she is 76 cm (about 2 and a half feet) above the next best performer in her age group, a beamonesque margin. It would also rate her in the top 25 performers in the Men's division, a situation unheard of in any other event. Even O'Connor herself did not jump as high when she was setting records in those younger divisions. She has already jumped higher than her world record, unofficially in her private practice facility near San Diego.
Decathlon
Her world record of 10,234 points in the emerging women's decathlon, which uses an age conversion scale for scoring, is the highest recorded score for any athlete, man or woman by 1700 points.Recognition
She was elected into the USATF Masters Hall of FameUSATF Masters Hall of Fame
The USA Masters Hall of Fame is the Masters section of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. It is intended to select worthy athletes from the various divisions of Masters athletics involved in the sports of track and field, road running and race walking...
in 2007. She has been named USATF Female Masters Athlete of the year in 2005 and 2006 and USATF Athlete of the Week, out of athletes of all divisions and genders, three times