Masters Relay Team Settles for U.S. Record

Another attempt at a world record during the Saddleback Masters Relays came up short Saturday. The 400 relay team of Doug Smith, Dick Richards, Bill Knocke and Phil Sims finished in 49.07 seconds, just off the 60-69 age-group record of 48.46, set by a German team in 1997. However, the time was an American record.

“We really think in the next one or two months we can shatter it,” said Smith, 60, a former track and field coach at Edison High. “We had a problem with some handoffs.”

Knocke, 60, of Huntington Beach, is a former masters national champion and world-record holder in the hurdles. Richards, 65, of Encinitas, is the 1999 world champion in the 100 and 200 meters in the 65-69 age group. Sims, 62, of Fallbrook, also won the 300 meters Saturday (43.42) in the 60-64 age group, just ahead of Knocke (43.91).

Payton Jordan, 82, of Santa Barbara, won the 100 meters in 16.09, which is considered a world record for his age. Jordan was the U.S. track and field head coach at the 1968 Olympic Games and is the 80-84 age-group world-record holder in the 100.