Back to being Bill Collins: Legend blasts M65 WR at indoor 200

Masters Hall of Famer Bill Collins quietly turned 65 in late November. But he made a big noise on Jan. 16 at a Texas A&M indoor meet, lowering the world record for 200 meters held by his friend Charles Allie. The listed WR is 25.41. Bill clocked 25.25, which age-grades to 19.68 as an open mark. The actual indoor WR is 19.92 by Frank Fredricks. Charles holds the M65 outdoor WR at 24.65, so that’s in jeopardy in this world meet year. Unfortunately, Bill’s incredible race got lost in the commotion over a freshman kid named Donovan Brazier, who ran an 800 at the same meet in 1:45.93, and got named USATF Athlete of the Week. Donavan’s first 200 was 25.20. Bill would have beaten that had he not eased up at the end. Welcome back to the WR scene, Bill.

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January 23, 2016

24 Responses

  1. Tom Phillips - January 24, 2016

    Really good to see this! Great times by all who ran!

  2. Peter Crombie - January 24, 2016

    Very impressive Bill

  3. Peter L. Taylor - January 24, 2016

    When I saw Bill last summer at Jacksonville nationals I thought he was finished as a sprinter. In fact, he was DNF (did not finish) in the 100 and did not even run the 200. Now, just over 6 months later, he comes back as “The Real Bill Collins.”

    Way to go, Bill.

  4. Mary Harada - January 24, 2016

    good news that Bill is back.

  5. Renee Shepherd - January 24, 2016

    I am beyond thrilled to see Bill breaking records again!! Bill you just breathed some life into my tired old legs!!

  6. Rob Jackson - January 24, 2016

    Bill, Your form coming down the homestretch look like days of old.You’ve given me hope that all is not lost yet.Great to see you back. You are truly a Hall of Famer.

  7. Ocean Eversley - January 24, 2016

    Congratulations Bill! Good to see my home-town friend from Mt.Vernon still running strong!

  8. Ron Pate - January 24, 2016

    I hope the meet organizers submit the proper documents to get Bill’s record ratified by both the IAAF and USATF

  9. Lindy Raney - January 24, 2016

    Congrats Bill. Incredible sprinting at 65.

  10. Burr Daly - January 24, 2016

    Congratulations, Bill Collins for your world record run. Glad to see you back. As a matter of fact, I was talking to your high school coach, Dave Rider, at the Florida International Senior Games and we were wondering how you are doing. Great to see you set a world record.

  11. Kevin Morning - January 24, 2016

    Bill is STILL the man! Glad to see that you’re still healthy and rolling.

  12. george haywood - January 25, 2016

    Greatest teammate, greatest sprinter Congratulations on your new world record….Welcome back Bill, we missed you!

  13. Bill Collins - January 25, 2016

    I like to thank everyone around the world for all the kind and wonderful words. It’s been a long road back, and I am grateful to so many for you words and prays during my illness. The support is what our masters program is all about. Pete Taylor your words were correct after Jacksonville, but it was with God’s blessing that has me back on the track. To my Houston Elite family, and people like Ken Stone who keep us all up to date with news, know how special you all are to me.

  14. Myrle Mensey - January 25, 2016

    Congratulations to a phenomenal athlete. You keep amazing us with all these great comebacks. I knew it was going to happen, it always does. What an inspiration and welcome to the 65-69 group.

  15. wayne bennett - January 25, 2016

    What an inspiration that is. Lets not overlook the other runners in that race. I thought Reggie Garner ran a great race. It must have been a thrill for Ed Gish to be in the race. This has to be great for our sport.

  16. Charles Allie - January 25, 2016

    Congratulations Bill on your 200M world record run! Very happy to see you back on the track and running in good health. Looking forward to running with and against my best friend and teammate.

  17. Joseph Burleson - January 25, 2016

    Congratulations, Bill!–to the friendliest, most humble guy who every showed up to a meet. Miraculously he seems to remember about 100,000 names of all the people who know him (how is does THAT is as miraculous as his running!). Way to go!

  18. Doug Spencer - January 25, 2016

    Congrats !!!!

  19. Arnie Pollinger - January 25, 2016

    Outstanding!

  20. Jerry Bookin-Weiner - January 25, 2016

    Amazing, particularly in lane 2! I’ll be his time would have been even better in lane 5 or 6! That plus altitude in Albuquerque should lead to something truly mind-blowing.

  21. Barry Warmerdam - January 25, 2016

    Congratulations, Bill! You always find a way to make me look forward to my next age group!

  22. David E. Ortman (M62), Seattle, WA - January 25, 2016

    Yes. Another incredible time. Congratulations. Concerning the results, I’ve still never been given a clear answer as to why in “open” meets, masters can’t be identified by age (which might make the results a bit more eye-opening to the college/university athletes and spectators). If you’re running unattached is it impossible to be listed as:
    (e.g.) M66-UNA or if you are with a club (e.g.) W54 -Club Northwest? Seems like if the results can show college/university names they could show ages as well, or does the software automatically kick out all numbers? See above video at 1:05.

  23. Craig Simmons - January 25, 2016

    Bill continues to be an amazing inspiration. I don’t know what his recent setback was that he overcame in world record fashion but his recovery from GBS a few years back was one of the greatest comebacks in any sport at any level in history. Congratulations Bill.

  24. Rick Easley - January 26, 2016

    Great to see you on the come back trail. It gives me inspiration as I am now dealing with health problems of my own. Jordan Pitts says hey by the way. He is a coworker of mine at Greenville High School and I think he is related to you somehow. Good luck in Albuquerque!

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