Shaheed in shape: Beats own M55 record in 800 twice
Nolan Shaheed is 57 and ready for Boston. How ready? He wrote Friday: “Today I ran an 800 at the (Occidental) Distance Carnival and ran a 2:06 something (actually 2:06.76), which isn’t a great time but not a bad one.” Last week he ran a 2:05.43 at the Benny Brown Invitational at Cal State Fullerton. Both marks are better than his own listed M55 American record of 2:06.83 from 2004. (Last summer, though, he ran a 2:05.17 at the USATF National Clubs Championships — but hasn’t submitted paperwork yet for records consideration.) “I guess I just expect to run faster,” he says. The world record is 2:03.7 by South Africa’s Stan Immelman in 2001.
If Nolan holds his form, he should bring down the M55 indoor record for 800 next weekend. The listed American indoor record is 2:08.9 by Ken Baker way back in 1992 — the oldest indoor 800 record on the books. The world indoor record is a tick better: 2:08.15 by Britain’s Reginald Phipps in 1999.
But Nolan won’t have college kids to pace him or riff off — as he did at Oxy and Cal State Fullerton this month. But he WILL have competition. Also entered in the M55 800 is Alston Brown of the Nike Central Park Track Club, who submitted a seed time of 2:06.00. According to mastersrankings.com, Alston ran a 2:05.9 last year.
Nolan also is entered in the mile and 3000 at Boston. Just for kicks.
That’s the bad news for the M55 runners.
Here’s good news for M60 sprinters: World champion
7 Responses
Bad news for us 55yr olds?This is like getting on the track with Ryan ,Liquiori, Keino, Coe , or Gray. Might be scary but it’s a blast.
David Salazar may have a few plans also.
Congratulations and continued success to Nolan a GREAT Masters athlete and a kind and humble man.I have marveled over the years at your continued excellence. I wish you good health to continue on your path…clearly you are willing to do the WORK needed..and i know that workload has to be awesome as well to get the RESULTS you do….all the best from NYC….
Congratulations Nolan once again you have proven to all the masters athletes that you are the best in the age category. We all will be looking foward to the Nationals and the match up with you and Alston Brown It will be a great race to see .
I have to mention the fact that Ken Baker was always a terrific athlete and friend to all us guy’s on the East coast! We all used to hook up and run some mean 600’s back in the early to mid 80’s See you in Boston next week.
Bad news for M 55 runners? ?¢‚Ǩ¬ùWe would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù C. Malesherbes ?¢‚Ǩ?ìTo accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù Anatole France
Nolan Shaheed shows us that Dreams, Motivation, Determination, Enthusiasm, Perseverance, Courage and plain old hard work will lead to Achievement. Nolan is good news for M 55 runners! As for me, I know if I throw my heart over the fence, the rest will follow. I’m sure, we all do it!
Nolan is a great inspiration. Makes me think anything is possible as we age.
I predict Nolan will break the M55 outdoor WR this year. Nolan, you are the best!
Congratulations Shaheed.
As -Salaamu-Alaikum,
Hope all is well with you and yours. I’ll say what most have said and know: You are amazing on the track, and simply a class individual. I’ll continue to enjoy the years knowing you.
Saladin
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