At 90, Orville Rogers is oldest USATF Athlete of the Week
USATF usually goes with a masters trackster for Athlete of the Week following masters nationals and worlds, but this was a pleasant surprise: “INDIANAPOLIS — Orville Rogers has been named USATF’s Athlete of the Week after setting a world and American record in the M90 800 meters Sunday at the 2008 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, Mass. Rogers, a 90-year-old youngster from Dallas, set a world and American record with his time of 4 minutes 19.97 seconds in the M90 800 meters. It demolished the previous world record of 4:50.81 run by Bob Matteson one year ago at this meet. On Saturday, Rogers ran 9:56.58 in the mile.” Only next time, lose the “youngster.”
Orville knows he’s old. No need to be cutesy.
Nadine O’Connor at age 65 might have been the oldest previous USATF Athlete of the Week. She was tabbed last year after indoor nationals.
3 Responses
Congrats to Orville Rogers! What a terrific achievement for Orville and for the masters program as a whole.
One of the main reasons I’m running as a masters now (I know, I’ve told this story a thousand times) is because, when I was 21, I ran in a meet that included a masters mile, and I watched wide-eyed as a 41-year-old ran a 4:36 mile. I thought, “My God, I never knew old guys could run like that!”
40 stopped seeming old to me that day. And the possibility of becoming a masters runner myself became a longterm goal.
Well, now Orville has hit me (and probably many others) over the head again, stating loud and clear, “There is no finish line when it comes to track!”
For as long as we can toe the line, we can run.
Congrats again, Orville. Many of us will be watching you in this and years to come.
I congratulated Orville after his mile. He gave me a big smile, and said, “Thank you! It was fun!” I hope it always remains fun for him and the rest of us as well.
Congratulations Orville !!!You are the Man !–Sorry I could not meet you at Kamloops as we had planned–I am nursing a strained achilles–lots of swimming—See yopu in Boston –I hope —
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