Eileen-Philippa "Phil" Raschker (born February 21, 1947) is a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

-born American masters athlete. Raschker was born in

Hamburg (male), (female) en, Hamburger(s), Hamburgian(s) , timezone1 = Central (CET) , utc_offset1 = +1 , timezone1_DST = Central (CEST) , utc_offset1_DST = +2 , postal ...

, where she first competed in swimming and gymnastics. She first tried track at age 13. She emigrated to the United States in the late 1960s and now is an accountant in

Marietta, Georgia Marietta is a city in and the county seat of Cobb County, Georgia, United States. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 60,972. The 2019 estimate was 60,867, making it one of Atlanta's largest suburbs. Marietta is the fourth largest ...

. She has amassed 71 Gold Medals at the

World Masters Athletics Championships The World Masters Athletics Championships are the biennial championships for masters athletics events held under the auspices of World Masters Athletics, formerly called the World Association of Veteran Athletes, for athletes 35 years of age or o ...

, including the three she won at the most recent championships in 2011, since she began competing at that level in 1983. As of 2010, she holds ten outdoor Masters World Records across

sprints Sprint may refer to: Aerospace *Spring WS202 Sprint, a Canadian aircraft design *Sprint (missile), an anti-ballistic missile Automotive and motorcycle * Alfa Romeo Sprint, automobile produced by Alfa Romeo between 1976 and 1989 *Chevrolet Sprint ...

, hurdles and jumping events and another dozen indoors. August 1988 a major milestone was achieved when she was the first female to pole vault at a major USA track and field outdoor championship. She vaulted 8'-0 1/2" (age 40) at the Masters Track and Field Outdoor Championship. Competing as a 47 year old Masters athlete, Raschker was invited to the inaugural women's

Pole Vault Pole vaulting, also known as pole jumping, is a track and field event in which an athlete uses a long and flexible pole, usually made from fiberglass or carbon fiber, as an aid to jump over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the Myc ...

at the 1994 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Such was the status of women's pole vaulting at the time, only a few women were experienced in the event. Raschker finished in second place on fewer misses, tying the meet record set moments earlier by winner, then high schooler Melissa Price at . The following year, Raschker returned to finish in third place behind Price's new American record of and an upstart from

Idaho State University , mottoeng = "The truth will set you free" , established = , former_names = Academy of Idaho(1901–1915)Idaho Technical Institute(1915–1927)University of Idaho—Southern Branch(1927–1947)Idaho State ...

Stacy Dragila Stacy Renée Dragila (née Mikaelson; born March 25, 1971) is an American former pole vaulter. She is an Olympic gold medalist and a multiple world champion. Early life Dragila was born and raised in Auburn, California, northeast of Sacramen ...

. Dragila went on to win the first Olympic medial in women's pole vault five years later.

Awards

Raschker was named the inaugural 2007

IAAF World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (from 1912 to 2001) and International Association of Athletics Federations (from 2001 to 2019, both abbreviated as the IAAF) is the international governing body for ...

Masters Athlete of the year and is a two time finalist for the Sullivan Award. She was elected to the

USATF Masters Hall of Fame The USATF Masters Hall of Fame is the Masters section of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. It is intended to select worthy athletes from the various divisions of Masters athletics involved in the sports of track and field, road running an ...

in 1997 and is also a member of the National Senior Games Association Hall of Fame.http://www.nsga.com/foundation/hall-fame NSGA Hall of Fame

References

External links

*, by

Roald Bradstock Arne Roald Bradstock (aka The "Olympic Picasso") is an Olympic athlete and an Olympic artist from England who competed in the men's javelin throw event during his career. He twice represented Great Britain at the Summer Olympics: 1984 and 1988. ...

* from the United States Sports Academy
New York Times article
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raschker, Philippa Living people 1947 births Sportspeople from Marietta, Georgia Athletes from Hamburg American masters athletes World record holders in masters athletics American female pole vaulters German emigrants to the United States 21st-century American women