Alan Keith Robinson, 83, completes 2024 Masters Mile with sprinting finish
The biggest race has wrapped up at the 2024 ‘Games with Heart’ – with the oldest competitor saying he feels ‘blessed’ to have been a part of it. SEE THE PICTURES.
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October 18: The oldest competitor in the Masters Mile has sprinted across the finish line – and is already looking ahead to returning and trying to top his six medal haul.
Travelling to Alice Springs all the way from Mandurah, WA, Alan Keith Robinson, 83, was the oldest competitor in this year’s Master Mile at the 2024 Alice Springs Masters Games.
Finishing with a time of 14.24, Mr Robinson said he didn’t even realise he was the oldest competing.
“I went into the pentathlon because I’ve done that before, and I’ve done short course triathlons during the last decade or so, and all sorts of ambitions,” he said.
“I did not realise I was the oldest competitor in the Masters Mile. I have already done Track and Field and ended up with six gold medals.
“I had a good life. I’ve been to a number of Games here because I’ve got family here – staying with our son’s family and I used to live here during the 1970s for three years.
“I’ve been blessed to come here every two years. And I reckon I’ll be here for the next Games.”
Taking out the Masters Mile was Andrew Hogg with a time of 05.36, ahead of Mark Lepper and Travis Scott with times of 05.54 and 05.57.
Masters Mile coordinator Marsha Maule-Murphy said out of the 69 registered participants, only 43 ended up competing.
Speaking to why 26 dropped out, she said heat may have been a factor, while others could have been resting up.
‘Shut this heat off’: Competition warms up for Americans in ‘Games with heart’
October 17: Hot weather has left one American competitor asking to “shut this heat off” as he looks for a comeback win in the 2024 Masters Games – as one American has already taken out third place.
Flying all the way from Reno, Nevada to Australia for this year’s Alice Springs Masters Games, American Keith Banners said this was his first glimpse of Australian soil, first taste of Aussie beer, and first experience with the Australian sun.
“Shut this heat off,” he laughed.
“(The Masters Games) are so well organised – so many things going on, it’s super.”
Competing in golf, he said the gold course had proven a learning curve.
“It’s got its complication – you sit there and it bites you right in the butt,” he said.
“Don’t get real arrogant, and that’s what I’d done you know … (I was thinking) ‘this course is simple, easy’, then when you get a little bit of wind, it’ll come up and bite you.”
Battling 35C-plus heat and sickness, Banners said he didn’t get the start he wanted, but was aiming to come back and clinch the win over the next few days.
“The guys that I’m playing with know that I ain’t standing and they know I’ve been sick, and that’s my goal, to just come back and just clean house,” he said.
“I have to make my comeback tomorrow and Saturday, and then I’ll have all the Aussies ticked off with me as this guy from America.”
With more than 40 competitors in the contest, he’s got some stiff competition.
But he’ll be able to draw some inspiration from fellow American Ed Ronquillo, who scored himself a bronze medal in the men’s golf Stableford.
Registration dip no dramas for Masters Games track and field
October 16: An athletics chief executive wants to make the Masters Games “great again” after a dip in track and field registrations.
With track and field wrapped up for the 2024 Alice Springs Master Games, Athletics NT chief executive Leanne Chin is already looking ahead to the next games, and put a call out to the community, Trump style.
“Let’s make them great again,” she said.
With only 68 competitors in track and field this year – down from 150 in 2018’s games – Ms Chin said there was a point where they almost didn’t go ahead.
“We were at a point where there wasn’t enough registrations,” she said.
“But we committed in July to delivering the sport.”
At the time, she said there were 45 registrations for track and field, and she felt cancelling would have unfairly impacted those who had already signed up.
“It would’ve impacted a lot of people,” she said.
With the sport going ahead, Ms Chin said the team did everything it could to make sure athletes had a good time over the three days of competition.
She said athletes were given plenty of water to stay hydrated in the Red Centre’s hot weather, and competitors weren’t eliminated over extended water breaks.
“They really appreciated that we had committed to delivering the sport,” Ms Chin said.
With her part over, Ms Chin said the athletics team celebrated with some pizzas at the Alice Springs Brewing Co.
Para athlete Cheryl Buscemi-le-Brun scores triple gold haul in 2024 Masters Games
October 15: A para-athlete – whose resume includes stints at the Commonwealth Games – has added another achievement to her list: a triple gold haul.
Cheryl Buscemi-le-Brun is competing in the 2024 Alice Springs Masters games, where so far she’s secured two personal bests, three gold medals, and met one of Australia’s biggest sporting stars – Dawn Fraser.
Buscemi-le-Brun said Ms Fraser handed over her medals.
Taking out gold in discus, shot put – where she got two personal bests – and javelin, Buscemi-le-Brun said it wasn’t without its challenges.
“I was throwing right into the sun late in the day,” she said.
However, she said games staff accommodated her, putting her in the shade to help her stay cool.
As one of the few para-athletes in the games, she said she hoped to see more come down in the future.
“It’s nice and quiet … lots of great people down here,” she said.
Records fall on second day of Red Centre ‘Games with Heart’
October 14: The first record has been broken in the 2024 “games with heart” – with the record breaker already eyeing her next scalp.
Debbie Page is the first record breaker in the 2024 Alice Springs Masters Games, topping Ruth Garden’s time of 1:29.78 in the 10km road walk with a time of 1:23:01 in the over-65 category.
Page, who’s competing in 15 events this year, said she had intention of taking out the top spot.
“I’ve just returned to walking and thought, ‘I reckon I can do that’,” she said.
But one record isn’t enough for Page, with another already catching her eye.
“I’m aiming for the 5 km record, which stands at 38 minutes, but I reckon I can beat that,” she said.
“I’ll give it a go. I’ve missed the Masters, so I’m doing as much as I can.”
Dawn Fraser talks Alice Springs Masters Games as thousands sign on for 2024 iteration
Sunday, October 13: A Covid-induced hiatus hasn’t stopped thousands from signing up for the latest iteration of the “games with heart” – some of whom have already taken out the top prize – as the patron behind the games says she’s expecting to see some records broken.
The 2024 Alice Springs Masters Games is underway, with more than 1200 taking part in 23 different sports this year, and roughly 2000 turning up to the opening ceremony.
Patron for the games Dawn Fraser said athletes at the opening ceremony “all had smiles on their faces”.
“They’re so glad to see the games open up again, which is fantastic,” she said.
Having been involved in the games since its inception in 1986, Ms Fraser said the games brought people from all over the world to Alice.
“We get a lot of people coming up from around Australia, we’ve had people from overseas come and compete – it brings a lot of people together,” she said.
“I’m meeting all the older people that have been coming up since it started, and it’s been great to see them playing and keeping fit.
“That’s what’s wonderful about playing a Masters Games, is the fact it keeps you fit forever.
“It’s always a chance to see some records broken … they’re always there to be broken.”
So far, punters have gotten involved with darts, 10-pin bowling, shooting, track and field events, and more – with Alice Springs local Brandon Graves claiming the first gold medal.
Mr Graves won gold in the 15km trail run from Simpsons Gap, clocking a time 01:05:42 to finish first overall and in his M30 division.
Out at Alice Springs Desert Park, orienteering volunteer sports co-ordinator Suzanne Casanova said the 35-39 ladies set the competition standard – despite some giving it a crack for the first time.
“It was a great competition — they definitely set the standard,” she said.
“For some, it was only their first or second time orienteering.”
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Originally published as Alan Keith Robinson, 83, completes 2024 Masters Mile with sprinting finish
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