Team Canada recently traveled to Torun, Poland, for the 2023 WMA Indoor Championships. In total, 61 Canadian athletes registered from across Canada, USA, Italy and the Netherlands. Canada ranked 15th overall out of 55 countries, winning a total of 8 gold, 11 silver, and 12 bronze medals. Many of our Masters Athletes had top-notch performances and a number of records were set during heats, only to be broken by the athlete in either their semi-final or final heat. In total, twenty new Canadian Records and three new World Records were set.
Well done to all of Canada’s athletes who attended this World Championships. CMA is proud of you!
World Records

Karla Del Grande is no stranger to the world of record setting and her impressive performances at Torun earned her three World Records. In her first race in Torun, Karla broke the World Record in the W70 400m by 8 seconds with a time of 1:11.34s. She then went on to set a World Record in the W70 200m with a time of 31.65s in her qualifying heat, then smashed this with a time of 31.18s in the finals.
Photo credit ShaggysPhotos.com
Canadian and World Records set in Torun
Date | Name | Event | Age Division | Performance | Record |
30-Mar | Christopher Warburton | 200m Heat | M55 | 24.50s | CDN |
31-Mar | Christopher Warburton | 200m Semi-Final | M55 | 24.05s | CDN |
27-Mar | Dmitry Babenko | 3000m RW | M50 | 13:29.23 | CDN |
31-Mar | Dmitry Babenko | 10km Road RW | M50 | 47:57:00 | CDN |
30-Mar | Jean-Pierre Mayer | Shot Put | M75 | 11.78m | CDN |
28-Mar | Karla Del Grande | 60m Heat | W70 | 9.30s | CDN |
29-Mar | Karla Del Grande | 60m Finals | W70 | 9.29s | CDN |
27-Mar | Karla Del Grande | 400m | W70 | 1:11.34 | CDN-WR |
30-Mar | Karla Del Grande | 200m Heat | W70 | 31.65s | CDN-WR |
31-Mar | Karla Del Grande | 200m Final | W70 | 31.18s | CDN-WR |
31-Mar | Marcel Jobin | 10km Road RW | M80 | 1:17.29 | CDN |
26-Mar | Marek Glowacki | Weight Throw | M80 | 15.24m | CDN |
30-Mar | Marek Glowacki | Shot Put | M80 | 11.65m | CDN |
1-Apr | Mark Pinckard | 1500m | M60 | 4;38.94 | CDN |
30-Mar | Martine Cloutier-Leblanc | 200m Heat | W40 | 26.04s | CDN |
31-Mar | Martine Cloutier-Leblanc | 200m Final | W40 | 25.82s | CDN |
28-Mar | Teresa Chiozza | 3000m RW | W70 | 19:07.57 | CDN |
31-Mar | Yannick Le Mouël | 60m H | M55 | 8.78s | CDN |
1-Apr | Christopher Warburton, Chris Lamassif, Marc Skeete, Yannick Le Mouël | 4×200 | M55 | 1:40.74 | CDN |
1-Apr | Alessia Berti, Martine Cloutier-Leblanc, Laura Sivers, Debbie Zinman | 4×200 | W40 | 1:55.47 | CDN |
Medal Winners
Name | Event | Age Division | Performance | Medal |
Johanna Flipsen | 3000m RW | W65 | 17:54.30 | Gold |
Christopher Warburton | 60m | M55 | 7.59s | Gold |
Johanna Flipsen | 10km Road RW | W65 | 1:01.54 | Gold |
Team W65 Johanna Flipsen; Nancy Patten; Teresa Chiozza | 10km Road RW | W65 | 3:16.53 | Gold |
Karla Del Grande | 200m | W65 | 31.18s | Gold |
Karl Mey | 200m | M85 | 38.60s | Gold |
Jackson Hinton | 60m H | M40 | 8.15s | Gold |
Yannick Le Mouël | 60m H | M55 | 8.86s | Gold |
Laura Hessel | WT | W70 | 11.87m | Silver |
Nancy Patten | 3000m RW | W65 | 19:24.57 | Silver |
Karla Del Grande | 60m | W65 | 9.29s | Silver |
Mark Pinckard | 800m | M60 | 2:19.79 | Silver |
Karl Mey | 800m | M85 | 4:15.14 | Silver |
Yannick Le Mouël | PV | M55 | 3.75m | Silver |
Marek Glowacki | SP | M80 | 11.65m | Silver |
Nancy Patten | 10km Road RW | W65 | 1:07.56 | Silver |
Christopher Warburton | 200m | M55 | 24.20s | Silver |
Karl Mey | 1500m | M85 | 9;11.14 | Silver |
Christopher Warburton, Chris Lamassif, Marc Skeete, Yannick Le Mouël | 4x200m Relay | M55 | 1:40.74 | Silver |
Laura Hessel | DT | W70 | 22.95m | Bronze |
Susan Stone | 6 km Cross-country | W60 | 37:22:00 | Bronze |
Marcel Jobin | 3000m RW | M80 | 21:40.85 | Bronze |
Juliette Christie | 3000m | W60 | 11:48.54 | Bronze |
Marek Glowacki | HT | M80 | 33.71m | Bronze |
Marek Glowacki | WT | M80 | 15.24m | Bronze |
Karl Mey | 60m | M85 | 11.53s | Bronze |
Jean-Pierre Mayer | DT | M75 | 37.63m | Bronze |
Dmitry Babenko | 10km Road RW | M50 | 47:57:00 | Bronze |
Team M35 Dmitry Babenko, Florin Dumitru, Cesar Arciba | 10km Road RW | M35 | 3:05.22 | Bronze |
Lynne Wawryk-Epp | 1500m | W65 | 6:34.05 | Bronze |
Karl Mey | TJ | M85 | 6.17m | Bronze |
Noteworthy Performances
CMA would like to extend a special congratulations to a number of athletes who were multiple medal winners. Karl Mey, M85, shone during his events and brought home a total of 5 medals; gold in the 200m, two silver in the 800m and 1500m, and two bronze in the 60m and Triple Jump. What amazing athleticism, Karl! Johanna Flipsen, W65, won Canada’s first gold medal of the Championships, and finished sporting three gold medals in all. Johanna won gold for her performances in the 3000m RW, 10km Road RW, and Team 10km Road RW.
Christopher Warburton, M55, also won three medals with superb performances, winning gold in the 60m, a silver medal in the 200m as well as a silver in the M55 4x200m relay. Nancy Patten, W65, with her stellar performances, also earned three medals: with silver in each of the 3000m RW, and the 10km Road RW, as well as a gold medal for the Team 10km Road RW. Marek Glowacki earned three medals out on the field with a very strong performance in his events; earning a silver in Shot Put, and bronze both in the Weight Throw and Hammer Throw. Yannick Le Mouël, M55, kept the momentum of the medal count going, earning three medals for Canada, with a gold in the 60m Hurdles, a silver in Pole Vault and finishing up the meet with a silver in the 4x200m relay. Laura Hessel, W70, had a strong performance in the throws, securing a silver medal in the Weight Throw and a bronze medal in Discus. Karla del Grande, W65, along with her record-breaking performances, came home with the silver medal in the 60m and a gold in the 200m events. Canada’s team was very well represented in all disciplines. Congratulations!
Athlete’s Oath
There was more going on in Torun for our team besides athletic performance during the Championships. Karla Del Grande started her week in Torun with the honor of representing all athletes and reciting the Athletes’ Oath at the Opening Ceremonies.
Photo credit ShaggysPhotos.com

Athlete’s Reflections
Thank you to Karla and Johanna for their words of encouragement, inspiration and gratitude as they reflect on their recent experience at the Worlds.
“Trying to sum up my experience at World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships 2023 is challenging! The most important elements, the support of CMA friends and organization; support of my coach, teammates and friends from Variety Village; our Canadian team of almost 60 athletes; the support I felt from them and from back home; and the pride felt in being Canadian. Perhaps because of our gratitude and appreciation for having this event after the pandemic, and our unity in wearing the special t-shirts, the feeling [in Torun] was special. Some of the highlights were participating with old friends and making new ones; representing all athletes by reciting the oath at the Opening Ceremony; and celebrating my birthday by breaking 2 world records and 1 Canadian record in my new age group of W70+.”
Karla Del Grande
“Firstly, I am grateful that I am able to travel to compete in places like Torun and the many other venues that Masters Athletics have taken me – I know that there are others, talented and enthusiastic, who are not able to do so for a variety of reasons, and I never take my participation in competition for granted! I only wish that I had heard of Masters Athletics sooner; as a decades-long road racer (running) before turning to race-walking, I had not even heard of CMA. Think of all the years of comradery, cheering on fellow Canadians, meeting athletes from other countries, and experiencing the support of being part of Team Canada that I missed out on! I would encourage athletes over 35 with an interest in track and field, cross-country and road racing to consider becoming CMA members and support this organization while getting great support in return. Hearing the clapping and cheers of your fellow athletes as you approach the finish line, regardless of your placing, is truly a special experience!”
Johanna Flipsen
As a CMA athlete, if you have been sitting on the fence about getting involved in the bigger meets, these two reflections will give you every confidence that you should just go for it!
Food Drive
(Photo credits Wendy Melvin)


Wendy Melvin, one of our Team Managers at the World Championships, organized an international food drive to help those impacted by the war in Ukraine. There are approximately 4000 Ukrainian refugees living in or near Torun. Because of Wendy’s initiative, 1000 lbs. of non-perishable food items and $1000 were collected. Wendy, whose grandparents were from Poland, was visibly moved when awarded a plaque for her efforts to help others. CMA is so proud of you, Wendy!