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Bloom PRESS RELEASE:

Antonio “Chris” Palacios named a 2012 USATF Masters Athlete of the year

Antonio Palacios, a Bloomington resident and past Big Ten All Conference athlete for IU, has recently been selected as a Masters Athlete of the year by the awards committee of the USA Track and Field Organization based on his outstanding performances during the 2012 season. Most recently, Antonio broke the world indoor long jump for his age group (45-49yrs) in Chicago, Illinois on December 15, 2012 with a jump of 22’11”. Prior to this, he set the USA indoor long Jump record at the IU Master National Indoor meet in Bloomington, IN on March 17, 2012 with a jump of 22’5”. He is currently world ranked #1 for his age group in the long jump.

 

Antonio has achieved much this past year, but his career speaks volumes about his talent and work ethic. He has earned a total of 10 Masters USATF national gold medals (six in long jump and four in triple jump) and maintains his #1 world ranking in the long jump (since 2011). For Antonio, running Masters track and field is much more than just an athletic experience. On participating in Masters he says, “…it’s been a way for me to challenge myself and expand my idea of what we are or what we’re capable of as human beings. That’s been so very exciting for me, particularly for the last few years.”

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Antonio Palacios injury at 2014 Budapest world's

reminds us of masters resilience

Karl Hawke checks on U.S. teammate Antonio after injury during triple jump.

American Antonio Palacios was favored to win the M45 triple jump at Budapest, but he pulled a hamstring on the first jump and Russians swept the medals. But photographer Rob Jerome was so taken by Antonio’s effort that he sent this shot. “Injuries are almost an inevitable part of this sport,” Rob writes, “and always a topic of conversation. But dealing with injuries and coming back to compete again is the true takeaway lesson of masters athletics. Palacios, I’m sure, will be back.” In the shot above, fellow competitor and American Karl Hawke coming to Antonio’s aide. 

INDIANA.USATF.ORG

Palacios Shines at 2015 World Masters Championships in France
Palacios leaps to top ten finishes

Antonio Palacios, 49, placed sixth in the M45 Long Jump with a leap of 6.20m (20' 4¼”) in the finals.  In the qualifying round the day before the finals he leaped 6.32m (20' 9”) which was the best mark of all competitors.  He also placed ninth in the triple jump with a mark of 12.98m (42-7). The 6.32m in the long jump scored 87.48% on the age grading tables while his triple jump scored 85.06%.

 

Palacios, the world record holder in the M45 indoor long jump reflected on his experience in Lyon - “It is a big deal any time you get to put USA on your chest and represent this great country. Although I would have liked to bring home the gold in long jump, my 6th place  means the world to me because my first World Masters experience in last year's Budapest World meet ended quickly in injury.” 

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Palacios breaks American record on third day of USATF 2016 outdoor Masters Championships

usatf Congrats to Antonio Palacios, wh0 jumped 6.48m/21-3 to take down M50 long jump record

from 1980!

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan -- In another eventful day of USATF Masters Outdoor Championships, Masters athletes broke numerous American records on day three of performances, including a record that has been intact since 1980.

 

Antonio Palacios (Bloomington, Indiana) set a M50 American record in the men’s long jump, leaping 6.48m/21-3 on his final attempt to break the current mark of 6.42m/21-0.75 by Shirley Davisson in 1980. Palacios, the M45-49 indoor long jump World record holder had the winning jump going into his final attempt, and used the crowd’s energy to soar past yet another record.

 

“This is the hardest I have ever had to work to pull this one out, and I really had to rely on the crowd to do it,” Palacios said of the exuberant crowd. “When I got to the [long jump] board it was just give it everything for everybody. It’s really an honor.”

INDIANA.USATF.ORG

Palacios sails to two titles; national record at 2017 indoor Masters Championships in Albuquerque

Palacios soars into the record books (again)

Leading the Indiana medal haul was Antonio Palacios, 50, of Bloomington   Palacios who set the American M50 outdoor long jump record in July added the indoor record to his resume as he soared 6.50m (21-03.75) to break the 36 year old indoor record.  The previous record was 6.31m (20-08.50) set in 1980 by Shirley Davisson. His mark in Albuquerque also bettered his outdoor mark by .5 inches.  Palacios picked up his second win as he captured the triple jump with a leap of 12.88m (42-03).   Palacios was the 1985 USA junior champion in the triple jump and was all-conference in the long jump and triple jump while at Indiana University.

 

“It was truly  a blessing to set the American long jump record and also to pick up my thirteenth national gold medal in the triple jump, offered and ecstatic Palacios following the competition. “My biggest take away from the meet was, just being there. I mean I just love masters track, if you had told me 30 years ago I'd still be jumping into a sand pit at 50 years of age, I'd would have said that you were crazy!”

“ I think my greatest attribute as a Master’s track and field athlete is my ability to persevere, to get up when knocked down, I may get injured, I may lose but

I just work hard, try-try again like the

“Little Engine that could, I think I can, I think can”,

then finally what?

I can!”

Antonio “Chris” Palacios

From: “The Will 2 Win 7Ws to Greatness” a 45m speech program

TORUN-POLAND

WORLD MASTERS INDOOR Championships

MARCH 24, 2019

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USATF - Press Release:
In a stunning comeback after a number of injuries, Antonio Palacios today won Gold in the M50 Long Jump against heavy competition with a leap of 6.23m. Before the event, Antonio told me that he just wanted to make it through the competition injury-free. He obviously accomplished a lot more than that.         Congratulations, Antonio!

INDIANA.USATF.ORG

Palacios breaks U.S. record at Masters Championships in Iowa

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07/15/2019 AMES,IOWA  PalacioS BREAKS HIS ON recoRD 

On Sunday the USATF Masters Outdoor Championships concluded in Ames, Iowa. Indiana members won 7 national titles and a total of 17 championship medals (for their top three finishes).

 

The highlight of the meet for the Indiana members was the U.S. record set by Antonio Palacios in the men's 50-54 long jump. He leaped 6.49m (21-03½) to break his own record by just .25 inches.

usatf.org

Coming off a stellar indoor season in which he won two medals (one gold) at the World Indoor Championships in Poland, Antonio Palacios (Unattached) set a new American record in the 50-54 age group long jump with a leap of 6.49m/21-3.5.

WMA'S TOP MASTERS JUMPER IN THE WORLD 2019

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The joy, the love and the honor, running for Team USA!
Always,
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