Lowdown on high jumper Dick Lowery: once did 5-10 with scissors
Dick Lowery is one modern guy. He does the flop. He sends email. At 80, he still enjoys sports. Not a bad jumper, either, as his WR-equaling 1.35 the other weekend showed. This week he replied to my usual inquisition via Internet. He writes: “I took up high jumping when I was 70. I had done some jumping when I was in high school and wondered if there was anything left in the old legs. Well there wasn’t, and that was the start of my new career. That year was 2000, and in 2003 in Hampton Rhodes, Virginia, I set a national record of 4-10. Then in 2007 at the age of 76, I jumped 4-7. Now at age 8o I’m heading to Houston Texas, and I wish I could tell you what I thought I could do, but I can’t. I am so erratic, but I am hoping for 4-6 (a world age-group record).
Dick floats over the bar backward like that other guy from the late 1960s.
Dick continues, answering my specific queries:
My starting height is always 4 feet. Today it would go 4-2, 4-4 and then one inch at a time. And that’s what it was at Clermont, I
tried 4-6 but missed.Lately I seem to be stuck at 4-5. Why do I do the flop? It’s the best thing for your body.
I live in Spring Hill Florida, about 40 miles north of Tampa. My wife and I live in a retirement community.
I have one daughter, a granddaughter and a grandson who both work as teachers in South Korea.
I put in 42 years as a brakeman on the Maine Central R.R. in Portland, Maine. I retired 20 years ago.
As a kid, I swam all summer long. We had some great lakes in Maine to swim in. In high school, I stayed with track and field. My best jump in school was 5-10 doing the scissors. I still don’t know how I did it. I still have a picture of me making that historic jump.
10 Responses
Dick is an inspiration for all of us jumpers. Good luck in Houston!
Greetings to the former Mainer! Good luck in Houston, love the inspiration.
He has a better technique than most of the guys in their fifties…..
Dick has always been an encouragement and fun competitor to be with. Good luck, Dick.
best wishes…! you are an inspiration…!
The “man in orange” is a class act. Good luck in Houston.
Just noticed that M53 Bruce McBarnette jumped 1.95 (6′ 4 3/4″) in NJ:
http://www.usatfnj.org/tf/Results%20%20NJ%20USATF%20Masters%202011.htm
His best since 2007. Amazing
Congratulations, Bruce. Terrific achievement. Looking forward to seeing you in Sacramento.
Good high jumping overthere!
You were amazing. Thought you did a good job at golf. Good putter.
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