Tony Echeandia, 51, runs incredible 56.93 over 36-inch hurdles

Tony at 2006 Charlotte masters nationals.

Wearing blue, Getulio “Tony” Echiandia Jr. was red hot in the 400 hurdles at the USATF National Club Championships last weekend at Icahn Stadium in New York. At 51, he would normally run the 33-inch barriers in his age group. But he bravely ran 36-inchers with the kids. His time was amazing: 56.93 (results are here). The listed M50 world record is 56.56 by Britain’s Howard Moscrop in 2008. (In 1977, Kansas legend Jack Greenwood at 51 ran the 440 hurdles over 36-inch hurdles in 59.5. Later that year, Jack ran the 33-inch-barrier race in 58.2, according to Pete Mundle’s single-age records.) In any case, see Tony in lane 2 in this USATF.TV video. Here’s my first extended Q&A with Tony since 2007. He told me then: “I love to compete, I love to win and I don’t care who I race against. When I race, I feel truly alive.”

Masterstrack.com: Did you have any concerns about the 36-inch barriers posing a problem at age 51?

Tony Echeandia: Absolutely, but I still do my drills over 36-inch hurdles because it feels more natural to me, but I won’t lie — the hurdles are harder as I get older, but mentally and physically I’m still able to run 36.

How did the last barriers feel?

To tell you the truth, when you’re running well you don’t feel the difference, so they didn’t affect me, but when my coach saw the video he was upset because he said I wasn’t running full out and he was a bit right. I had more at the end of the race. I should have run to the finish line harder.

What was your step pattern?  15, 15, 17, etc.? Do you alternate?

I ran 6 hurdles in 15 steps and the last 4 in 17 steps, I chopped the seventh hurdle, but I didn’t lose too much momentum. Normally I alternate, but not on the day of the race. Could be age.

When was the last time you ran 36-inch sticks before last weekend?

April 2015 when I was in California training with my coach, I ran two races both at 59 point FAT over 36-inch hurdles. 

What’s your all-time PR at 400H? When and where?

When I was 24, I ran 50.63 FAT in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I had just started to really improve over the hurdles but unfortunately I gave up running because I found out my mother had cancer.

What are your competition plans the rest of the season?

Well I wish I could have another chance at the hurdles prior to worlds, but it’s not looking that way, and it’s too late to enter U.S. nationals, so I am going to run a 400 and 200 at a meet in Long Island, NY, on Wednesday, July 22, and then close it down and get prepped for worlds. 

How much faster can you go over 33-inch hurdles?

I personally have no idea. I don’t know what the time difference would be between 33- and 36-inch hurdles, do you? My coach says I should run 55 seconds over 33-inch hurdles and he’s seldom wrong, and of course I’d love to!

When will you shoot for 56.56 WR by Howard Moscrop?

Although it may be hard, I will try at worlds as long as I stay healthy.

Any advice for other hurdlers on how to train for the 400s post-50?

Every time I say something about training, people jump all over me (lol). But I will say I train very hard, the people I train with will confirm this and I am thankful that the Good Lord has given me my health, which keeps me going.

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July 17, 2015

18 Responses

  1. Matt B. - July 17, 2015

    VERY impressive.
    “When I race I feel truly alive”
    I know the feeling.

  2. Xavier Ibarreta - July 17, 2015

    World class time. This guy is a machine!

  3. Mike Walker - July 17, 2015

    Even more impressive as the All American standard for the flat 400 is 57.5!

  4. Francois Boda - July 17, 2015

    Incredible time! Congratulations!

  5. James Chinn - July 17, 2015

    Awesome.

  6. Liz Palmer - July 17, 2015

    It’s hard to find the right superlative to describe Tony. He’s on another level.

  7. Mike Sullivan - July 17, 2015

    Great Race Tony,
    Sully

  8. Don Drummond - July 17, 2015

    Congrats Tony. I look forward to watching you lower that 400 IH WR to 55 seconds

  9. MINERVA RODRIGUEZ - July 17, 2015

    FELICIDADES A NUESTRO CAMPEON
    POR TAN EXTRAORDINARIA EJECUTORIA
    LE DESEAMOS TODO LO MEJOR Y NOS VEMOS EN EL MUNDIAL

    MINERVA
    FERNANDO

    ATLETAS MASTER EN PUERTO RICO

  10. Matt B. - July 17, 2015

    Is there another Echiandea? A Tony listed as age 47 in 400 rankings.

  11. Robert Thomas - July 18, 2015

    I saw that, the rankings page in the 400 is incorrect.

  12. Ruthlyn Greenfield-Webster, RN - July 18, 2015

    That was an AWESOME run Tony! It was equally awesome being there to witness you mixing it up and holding your own with the kiddies!! :-). Best of Luck to you at Worlds!

  13. Tony Echeandia - July 18, 2015

    Thank you All for your very very kind words, and thank you Ken for writing about my achievement, you all made my year!!!!
    Kindest Regards,
    Tony

  14. Tony Echeandia - July 18, 2015

    Monton de Gracias Minerva por haber escrito en este pagina sobre mi!!
    Besito!!

  15. MICHAEL DE JESUS - July 18, 2015

    BIEN HECHO, MUY BIEN HECHO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  16. Ken Stone - August 1, 2015

    Tony reports on Facebook that he pulled his left hamstring during a low hurdle rep yesterday and must withdraw from Lyon meet. Such a shame! A lock for gold and possible WR gone in a blink.

  17. Marcus battle - August 2, 2015

    There you go Ken,can he beat Darnell Gattling,and did you call Bailey

  18. Marcus battle - August 2, 2015

    You do know Tony has been good over Ten years.He can sprint
    Also

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