Tony Echeandia won the M40 hurdles at 2006 Charlotte nationals.

How cool would it be to finish third in your open national championships — at age 43? Ask Getulio “Tony” Echeandia. A week ago Sunday, Tony won bronze in the Masculino 400 Metros Vallas (men’s 400-meter hurdles) at the Puerto Rican national track championships at Ponce, Puerto Rico. His time was 54.17. That time is more than 2 seconds faster than the 56.43 he ran in taking silver in the M40 long hurdles at the 2005 San Sebastian worlds! (He would have beaten gold-medalist Kip Janvrin with this time.) Of course, I had to learn more about his Ponce performance.

Here’s my Q&A with Super Tony:

Masterstrack.com: What’s your date of birth? Where do you live? What’s your line of work?
Tony: May 15, 1964. I live in ambien NYC and San Juan, Puerto Rico. I own a construction company.
What’s your all-time PRs in sprints and hurdles? When and where? What schools did you run for, if any?
400 in 46.84 at Caracas, Venezuela. 400H in 50.63 at Berkeley, California. Both times I believe were in 1988, I ran for St. John’s University, Queens, New York.
What were reactions of the kids you raced?
The kid who won stopped me and told me his coach remembered me from when I ran for the Puerto Rican national team and that I ran 50 point for hurdles. That was funny, kid didn’t know me from a piece of wood but his coach did.
How did the final go — what lane were you in, how was your start, what were conditions, did you ever lead, etc.?
Final was OK. I had xanax online lane eight, which I hate because I ran alone until the far curve, We had to start the race three times because the block sensors were malfunctioning and that sucked too, My start was not great because I haven’t concentrated on speed yet; it’s too early in the year so I ran more off my strength. That and I didn’t want to exert myself again after two restarts. I never lead in the race but finished very strong.
What leg do you generally led with? Do you alternate? What was your step pattern — 15 then 16, or 17?
I have always been awesome at alternating, stronger on my right leg, though, When I was younger I ran 13, 14, 15 steps, today I run eight hurdles in 15 steps and hurdle 9 and 10 in 16 steps.
What aches and pains have you dealt with or overcome this season?
I hurt my right hamstring before indoor nationals, which sucked, but other than that I have been fine. I work a lot, owning your own company can be a bit much at times and can tire you out.
When did you first run in PR nationals?
1983 I was 19 years old.
Are you now a member of a traveling national team? Or do you have to meet some time standard?
I am not a member of the traveling team; in actuality we have a young man running 49.0 flat and he was in Europe racing. Plus from my previous experiences 54 flat is not enough to compete on a international open level; I did compete internationally when I was younger so I know… but I wish it was!
What are your plans for the rest of the season? Orono? Riccione?
I will be competing at both Orono and Riccione and the club championship in NYC, where we will try to break the world record for the M40 mile relay. I will be running the 400H at both Orono and Riccione, but I’m not sure in which championship I will run the 400.
What keeps you motivated to compete at such a high level?
Three reasons. One, when I was younger my mom had cancer and died. I never could concentrate on running because I went to school, worked and took care of family so I felt cheated that I never had a chance to develop as a runner.
Secondly I have two sons that I love very much and they come to the majority of my races; they have now gotten involved in running and they can hurdle which is a great clomid feeling to share something. I love so much with them; it’s become a family thing.
Lastly I love to compete, I love to win and I don’t care who I race against. When I race I feel truly alive.