SEATTLE — Former Clear Lake High School star Mike Curry of Elk Grove tied his own national record in the 56-pound weight throw during the 2008 USA Masters Weight and Superweight Championships on Sept. 5 at West Seattle Stadium in Seattle.
Competing in the age 40-44 division of the ultraweight pentathlon, Curry threw the 56-pound weight (also known as the superweight) 8.86 meters, tying the national record he set earlier this season. The ultraweight pentathlon includes weight throws of 35, 56, 100, 200 and 300 pounds.
Curry wasn”t planning on participating in the ultraweight pentathlon after winning the single-event 56-pound throw earlier in the competition. His toss of 8.66 meters beat out his primary rival, David Bickel, who was second with 8.56 meters.
“We”re now recognized as being the new great rivalry in Masters track and field,” Curry said of his rivalry with Bickel in both the 35- and 56-pound weight throws. “I wasn”t going to compete in the pentathlon after beating him in the superweight throw, but when I saw that he had signed up for the pentathlon, there was no way I wasn”t going to,” Curry said.
Curry pulled out of the pentathlon after his throw in the 56-pound weight topped the field. He said he wanted no part of the 100-, 200- and 300-pound weight throws. “I played around a little bit with the 100-pound weight,” Curry said. “That was enough.”
In the single-event 35-pound weight throw, Bickel bested Curry with a national-record toss of 14.18 meters. Curry almost matched him, clearing 14.17 meters with his final throw.
“That was one hell of a competition,” Curry said. “I came up one centimeter short.”
The USA Masters Weight and Superweight Championships represented the last big competition for Curry this season.
“Everyone is kind of tired by this point,” Curry said. “I”m going to take two weeks off and the return in October with some light stuff,” he added of his future workout schedule. “It”s been a good year.”
