Sue McDonald (61), of Santa Barbara, competed in the 2024 USATF Masters Outdoor National Championships last week in Sacramento, CA and came away with three National Championship titles and two world and American records in the 60-64 age division.
Just 30 days earlier, McDonald competed in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in the masters 800m exhibition event.
Outfitted in a HOKA race kit and spikes (HOKA’s parent company, Deckers, is headquartered in Goleta), McDonald won the race with a time of 2:22.81, just .30 off her world record.
Also competing in the exhibition race were two of McDonald’s running clients, Laura Young and Liz Guerrini.
On Day 2 of the USATF Masters Championships, McDonald ran a 61.73 (99.44% Age Grade) 400m, becoming the youngest female to run her age in the 400m and set a new world and American record, surpassing her own world record of 62.34 she set at last year’s nationals in Greensboro, NC.
The record was a solo effort as the next fastest competitor was over 15 seconds behind.
McDonald’s second event was the 300m hurdles on the last day of the championships.
McDonald entered the meet as the world record holder but had not raced the event all season nor is it an event that she trains for, instead, relying on her experience as a 400m hurdler while at Los Angeles Valley College and on her strength and speed in her main events – the 400m and 800m.
McDonald set her second world and American record with a time of 48.84, just barely surpassing her previous record of 48.89.
McDonald’s last event was the 200m about an hour and a half after the hurdles. The 200m was contested in a -1.3 headwind and although McDonald has the world lead with a 28.69, she ran 29.08 for the win.
Saturday night, at the USATF Masters Awards Dinner and Athlete Party, McDonald was inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame (Class of 2023) and also received awards for USATF Masters Overall Track & Field Athlete of the Year, USATF Masters Female Athlete of the Year and USATF Masters Middle Distance Athlete of the Year.
McDonald is coached by local legend, Terry Howell (running) and popular podcast host and author, Joel Smith of Just Fly Sports (strength) and works with Metabolic Practitioner – Cynthia Monteleone of MAM808.
McDonald credits her chiropractor, Dr. Ben Holt of S.M.A.R.T. Chiropractic for keeping her in one piece and making sure if any injuries pop up, he is there to take care of them.
McDonald trains at the Women’s Athletic Club (WAC) in Santa Barbara and enjoys running workouts with Coach Terry’s crew – BlueCollarRunning.
McDonald and her husband, Michael live on the Mesa and have 3 children: Chiara (30); Nicolas (21) and Cruz (18).