Watch: 100-year-old sets new world record in track-and-field competition
Most of us would feel lucky to be alive at 100. Most of us would feel even luckier to be able to walk if we make it to 100.
Running at 100? Impossible, right?
Orville Rogers can prove you wrong. Saturday, he not only proved he can run, he set a world record in the process.
Rogers set a new age group record in the men’s 60-meters at the USATF Masters Indoor Championships in Landover, Maryland.
🚨🚨 World Record Alert! 🚨 🚨
100-year-old Orville Rogers (lane 2) set a new age group record in the men's 60m in 19.13 at USATF Masters Indoor Championships! #USATFmasterstrack pic.twitter.com/A3QuZz1iPZ
— USATF (@usatf) March 17, 2018
Rogers placed first in the age 100-104 category. He clocked a time of 19.13.
Edward Cox, 90, won the 60-meter race with a time of 11.73. George Scott, 97, placed second in the event with a time of 16.77.
Rogers, who is from Dallas, is not just a sprinter. He also set a pending world age-group record in the 400-meters with a time of 4:16.90.
Rogers was a bomber pilot in World War II and is a former airline pilot. He took up running at the age of 50.
He estimates he’s run more than 40,000 miles. He credits a good attitude and his commitment to the Lord for being so active late in life.
“I’m optimistic all the time,” he said in an interview last year with the Dallas Morning News. “I’m in a constructive mindset all the time. I think there’s more to come, and I want to be here to enjoy it. One of the opportunities to keep young is to keep thinking ahead and planning ahead and anticipating ahead.”
Rogers wasn’t the only centenarian who got into the record books Saturday.
Way to go, Julia! Watch 102-year-old Julia "Hurricane" Hawkins set a new 🌎record in the women's 100+ 60m in 24.79 🔥🔥🔥! #USATFmasterstrack pic.twitter.com/WbPG0VW25O
— USATF (@usatf) March 17, 2018
Julia Hawkins, 102, set a record in the 60m with a time of 24.79 seconds.
GOALS. 💯 and 102 years old and not slowing down.
📷: Orville Rogers and Julia Hawkins at USATF Masters Indoor Championships, credit USATF pic.twitter.com/dLv8XZtWFn
— USATF (@usatf) March 17, 2018
Hawkins is the oldest woman in the history of the USATF Championships. She was a cycling enthusiast for years, taking up competitive running when she was 100.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.