Olympian Willie Banks of Carlsbad Back to Games as U.S. Record Holder — at 68

Two-time Olympian Willie Banks of Carlsbad is returning to the Summer Games. Yet he’ll have a different role in Paris — as a member of the governing World Athletics Council.

“I am honored to be a part of the medal ceremony for a few events,” said Banks, the Oceanside High School and UCLA graduate. “Also, I will sit on the Jury of Appeals.”

But when the former world record holder in the triple jump hands out gold, silver and bronze neckwear in August, he’ll be a new American record holder himself — at age 68.

A week ago at the USA Track & Field National Masters Championships in Sacramento, Banks bounded 10.98 meters (36 feet, 1/4 inch) on his second try to break the 65-69 age-group U.S. record of 10.84 (35-6 3/4) in the hop, step and jump set 37 years ago by the late Tom Patsalis, a USC grad.

The last time he did his signature event? In June 2016 at the Pasadena Senior Games.

Banks — who also won the M65 high jump by straddling 1.60 (5-3) — was one of 21 San Diego County athletes among 1,300 entrants at American River College.

At Sacramento, he was shooting for the world age-group record of 11.94 (39-2 1/4) dating to 1996.

“I wanted to set a WR but I was happy, of course, with the AR,” Banks said via email. But he had to pass his last three jumps.

“On my third jump, I really tried to go faster in my run,” he said. “That led to a shorter stride length and I made a rookie mistake and left the board from the wrong position. I was OK in the hop phase but coming down in my step phase I reached, causing me to miss the proper point of contact and bruised my heal and sprained my Achilles tendon.”

Still, his retirement-age rivals encouraged him — performing the rhythmic clapping that Banks pioneered at a Swedish meet in 1981.

“Yes, it was inspiring,” he said of the applause-in-unison. “I really enjoy masters because it is like a band of brothers during competitions. We all want the best for each other. All the guys were exceptional during the competition, and I truly had fun.”

Banks — like all the entrants and officials in the four-day meet — endured temperatures hovering above 100 degrees.

“It was HOT!!!!” he said. “Fortunately, I love to jump in the heat. The [high jump] was tough for me due to my inability to calm my excitement about jumping. I guess I really wanted to do well that day.”

In fact, he outjumped Bruce McBarnette, who set the M65 world record of 1.68 (5-6) a year ago.

Paul Greer, president of the San Diego USATF association, said the local track and field community was extremely proud of everyone from the association, “especially USA Track and Field Hall of Famer Willie Banks’ American Record. Everyone who represented are true champions and competed magnificently.”

Here’s how other county residents did at Sacramento — from youngest to oldest.

Jarod Dawson, 32, of Spring Valley

Took second in the 100 meters (10.99 seconds) and 200 (22.46) and ran a leg on a nonclub 4×100 relay win in 43.11 seconds. (He competed in a submasters category, since masters track starts at age 35.)

Hunter Daniel, 37, of Cardiff

Took second in the 1500 in 4:29.14, third in the 400 (but second American) in 56.80 and sixth in the 800 in 2:07.42

Andras Farkas, 43, of Carlsbad

Took first in triple jump at 12.67, second in shot put at 11.00 and second in javelin at 46.06.

Marije Pinne, 50, of Oceanside

Took first in triple jump at 10.19 and second in long jump at 4.11.

Kristy Matthews, 51, of Chula Vista

Took firsts in 200 at 28.04, 400 in 1:03.87 and 800 at 2:25.81. She also ran a leg on two silver medal relay teams — 4×400 and 4×800.

A former San Diego State athlete, Matthews set a 400-meter world indoor record for her age group in March at the indoor national masters meet in Chicago.

Brian Monroe, 54, of Escondido

Took first in the pole vault at 4.20.

Dave Woods, 54 of San Diego

Took fifth in the pentathlon at 1145 points and seventh in 100-meter hurdles (36 inches) in 22.96.

Jason Wyatt, 55, of Spring Valley

Took second in the shot put at 13.97 and third in the discus at 35.81

Charles Kendall, 61, of Carlsbad

Took fourth in the pole vault at 3.35.

Adam Ross, 61, of Oceanside

Ran 14.11 in the 100 prelims and took eighth in the 400 in 1:04.67. He ran a leg on So Cal Track Club’s gold-medal 4×100 relay in 57.71.

Michael Lebold, 66, of San Diego

Took first in the 4×800 relay in a world record 10:16.67 (beating the old record of 10:19.89) first in the 800 with 2:31.68 and second in the 1500 in 5:13.89.

Linn Dunton, 67, of Pine Valley

Took second in javelin at 22.97, third in discus at 21.73 and fourth in shot at 9.07.

Sandra “Sandee” Scott, 67, of El Cajon

Took third in the shot at 9.15 and fourths in the discus (20.37), hammer (22.95) and javelin (16.72).

Tina Breen, 68, of Spring Valley

Took fourth in the 5000 at 25:27.27 and eighth in the 1500 at 7:04.18.

Rita Hanscom, 70, of San Diego

Took firsts in the high jump (1.20), pole vault (2.20) and long jump (3.29) plus fourth in the javelin at 18.77 (but was third American).

She also took third in the 100 in 17.14 (behind Loretta Woodward-Turner’s world record of 14.19) and second in the 4×100 relay in 1:14.95 with her Southern California Striders team also dipping under the American record.

Michael Hogan, 70, of San Diego

Took sixth in the pole vault at 2.45 (but fifth among Americans).

Jim Malin, 73, of San Diego

Took third in shot put at 11.20 (but second among Americans) and seventh in long jump at 3.31.

Jack White, 81, of El Cajon

Took first in the shot put at 9.60 and fourth in the discus at 21.52.

And Arthur Sepin, 85, of San Diego

Took seconds in the shot at 9.42 and weight throw at 11.06, plus fourth in the hammer throw at 24.31.

Some athletes shared their thoughts:

Double-medalist Daniel, a portfolio manager for Morton Wealth, said he was very pleased overall with how he executed his races tactically and competitively.

“I fought for every second and put myself in each race with my best chance to run for a medal,” he said. “I want to thank my coach, Paul Wellman, who programmed specific workouts leading into the championships that gave me the confidence to race for medals. Additionally, I am very grateful to be a part of Prado Racing Team. I would not be at my current fitness level today without having teammates to train with.”

Thrower/jumper Malin said he was pleased with both his performances, especially coming off a recent hamstring injury.

“No season best or personal bests,” he said, “but doing the rehab drills allowed me to compete. … Am now training for the SD Senior Games in September!”

Distance-runner Breen — vice president of the San Diego USATF association — said she felt really good running the 5000 on Day 1, Thursday, .

“Did my thing, enjoyed the ride and only slowed down by 10 seconds [my time at] 2018 nationals. I take that as a win in my mind. My splits were on point and that was the goal. The best part: I was lucky to have the best morning weather that day.”

The 1500 didn’t turn out as she would have liked.

“Really no excuse, just didn’t feel fresh. I could blame it on the weather but the gods were on my side yet again,” she said. “The only real challenge was attending the Friday and Saturday afternoon races to support my running friends, Michael Lebold and Hunter Daniel. Seating in the stands in that 100+ heat was no fun. But sometimes you have to be there for others.”

World-record setter Lebold, who won silver in the 1500, said it was 104 degrees at the gun of his 800-meter run.

“I had hoped for a slowish first lap — and that’s just what I got,” said the self-employed artist. “The ringing of the bell still in my ear as I rounded the next turn. I moved up into launch-position — wound it up and I set the horses loose with 300 to go and the duel to the finish was on.”

David Westenberg pulled up alongside him down the home stretch — “close enough to see his orange racing-kit out of the corner of my eye without turning my head,” he said. “But I was listening to the announcer narrate over the loudspeaker his push to the finish and I was ready to push back.”

Lebold won by less than half a second.

Scott the thrower — a local coach and official — said her shot-put efforts “put me over the top and I’m still floating! I thought it was just another meet, but when I saw the competition I was like whoa! I haven’t competed in two years and to place third in shot only behind two record holders. I couldn’t be happier or prouder. … My confidence has risen to a different level.”

Triple-champion Hanscom, who was World Female Masters Athlete of the Year in 2009, said she felt sorry for the dozens of USATF officials — working all day in the heat.

“My proudest moment was the 4×100 relay,” she said. “The relay on Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. was probably the hottest — over 100 degrees, and our Striders team had eight women over 70 … divided into two relay teams. Both teams broke the previous American record.”

Handsome, who turned 70 this spring, said she was nearly recovered from a partially torn Achilles that happened in December — playing golf.

“Actually, it was caused by pushing my golf cart up a steep hill,” she said. “I believe I am currently injury free, now awaiting the inevitable next one. As they say in masters track: When you start masters track, a wandering pain enters your body.”

Double-medalist Dunton noted she lost a bronze medal by 3 inches in the shot but was thrilled with her performance despite a series of injuries.

“This has been a tough year for me,” she said. “I was hampered all last season by plantar fasciitis in my left foot. I worked hard to get that healed, and I got it in my right foot this winter. I had to spend months getting it healed.”

Then the first week of June, while throwing, she tore the meniscus in her left knee.

“I spent the last 2 1/2 months doing all types of therapy. I started light throwing from a stand about three weeks before nationals. I stood and threw shot and discus and did a tentative 3-step in javelin at Nationals.”

Allowed only two warmup javelin throws at Sacramento, she hurt her shoulder and may have a rotator cuff tear.

Despite the ordeal at nationals, the athletic director at Liberty Charter High School encouraged readers to get in the game.

“It is never too late to try something new,” Dunton said. “My dear friend Linda Cohn, who connected me to the masters track world, is a perfect example. She started … at age 50 and holds multiple world records in the javelin. She is also world-ranked in shot, discus, long jump and triple jump. Art Sepin, another San Diego County resident, decided last year to try throwing. He is 84 years young! He competed in shot, hammer and weight throw in Sacramento and won two medals and a ribbon.

“Life is too short to live on the couch or as a bystander. Get up, get going, and try something new. You may never know what you are good at. If you try masters track and field, you will find a wonderful community waiting for you.”

Contributing editor Ken Stone, 70, took sixth in the 300-meter hurdles and ran the 100-meter prelims at Sacramento.