Presbyterian College Professor Wins USATF National Masters Championship

Presbyterian College Professor Wins USATF National Masters Championship

Aftercindy doing some warm-up stretches in the early morning sun, the weather not yet reaching the predicted mid-90s temperatures of high noon, Cynthia Lucking, PC’s associate professor of economics and business administration, prepared for the first race of the day—an 800-meter run in the 2015 USA Track and Field National Masters competition.

Hosted at University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., the USATF National Masters competition held track and field competitions ranging from short 100-meter dashes to 10,000-meter runs, to steeplechases, high jumps, discus throwing, and even pole-vaulting competitions. These competitions were open to both men and women ages 30 to 95 and were carried out over four days in the summer, from July 23-26.

In 2014, Lucking earned third place in the 5,000-meter run and first place in the 10,000-meter run for her age group, making her a USATF National Masters national champion. This year, Lucking earned that title again, placing in the top three in five separate competitions for the women’s 60 age group: third in the 1,500-meter run, 5,000-meter run, and triple jump; second in the 800-meter run; and first in the 2,000-meter steeplechase.

Suzanne Smith, Lucking’s colleague and the Robert M. Vance Professor of Business Administration and chair of the department of economics and business administration, said, “[Lucking] is quick to tell people that she was the only person in her age group competing in the steeplechase, but I say that if any woman over 50 [who] has the guts and ability to jump over hurdles and run through water, regardless of the competition, she should be national champion!”

Lucking participated in the races despite a persistent injury.

 

Written by Allison Cooke, a junior English major, media studies, journalism track minor from Winnsboro, S.C.