Donna Beard dominates at USA Track Master’s Championships

In her own words, Donna Beard was behind the eight-ball.

Competing in the women’s 60-64 hammer throw at the USA Track & Field Master’s Outdoor Championship in Huntsville, Ala. on July 17, the 61-year-old Beard entered as the top seed in the field of four. However, after fouling her first attempt, she sat at the bottom.

Aside from her fellow competitors, Beard had to combat the heat and humidity of Alabama in July as well as several lightning delays that disrupted the flow of the meet. By the time the rain had slowed down leading up to the hammer throw, the ring was full of water.

“I went, ‘Well, we all have to do the same thing,’” Beard said about the conditions at the time. “‘Let’s just do it.’ … It’s odd conditions, but I gotta do what I gotta do.”

Despite the circumstances, Beard re