WMA Indoor Championships- Torun, Poland, March 26 – April 1, 2023

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

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

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!