The 2010 World Masters Indoor Athletics championships started Monday morning at precisely 8:45, and not long after, Canadian Erin Bevans had won the first gold medal.

Bevans, who hails from Port Moody, B.C., won the men’s 35-39 javelin (800 grams) category. His throw of 61.77 metres was good enough to take gold in the first event of the championships.

All three of the men who made the podium in that event are from Canada — Sharaz Shaikh of Mississauga, Ont., was second after a throw of 49.79m, while Kier Wilson of Sherwood Park, Alta., took bronze with a chuck of 44.47m.

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Shortly after Bevans won his medal, William Falconer won Kamloops’ first medal of the championships.

Falconer, 89, was the lone competitor — and therefore finished first — in the men’s 85-89 discus. His golden throw sailed 12.10m.

Among the other Kamloops medalists Monday were Kathy Brand, 67, whose throw of 18.29m left her third in the women’s 65-69 javelin, and 50-year-old Melinda Williamson, who was third in the women’s 50-54 8km cross-country run.

Other local medalists in the men’s 8km race included Lewis Butcher (gold, 75-59), Richard Brewster (silver, 45-49), Jason Ladyman (bronze, 35-39) and Anders Ganstal (bronze, 40-44).

Full results can be found at www.kamloops2010masters.com.

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While most of the action is centred around the Tournament Capital Centre, the medal ceremonies are held inside TRU’s Campus Activity Centre.

The ceremonies, which are held on the same day as the finals, are held in the CAC’s atrium area.

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There were at least two world records broken Monday.

American Christel Donley set an indoor record in the women’s 75-79 60m hurdles with a time of 14.22. Another American, Aaron Thigpen, broke the men’s 45-49 60m record Monday, finishing in a time of 7.02 seconds.

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The media co-ordinator for the championships is Tracy Watson, a former Daily News sports reporter, who is in charge of keeping all the media folks happy.

The American masters team also brought its media chair, Bob Weiner. Weiner also is scheduled to compete in the 800m, 1,500m and 3,000m, but may have to miss due to his duties as media chair.

Weiner worked at the White House during the Bill Clinton administration as a communications director for several committees. His Washington, D.C.-based business, Robert Weiner Associates (RWA), works out of an office situated at 1750 Pennsylvania Ave., which is less than two blocks away from the White House.

mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca