Bob Lida claiming Jordan title as world’s greatest 80-plus sprinter
USATF news for Day 3 at nationals:
ALBUQUERQUE – Stellar performances in the final events of USATF Masters Indoor Championships resulted in a total of 39 American and 10 World records to add to the history books.
Bob Lida (Wichita, Kansas) of Houston Elite sprinted the W80 200m in a world record setting time of 29.84. Last year’s M75 USATF Masters Athlete of the Year finished a full three seconds ahead of second place to earn his third medal of the weekend. Lida also set a [American] mark in the 400m (1:13.34) and earned silver in the 60m (9.21) earlier in the weekend.
Distance runner Kathy Martin (Northport, Long Island), in spite of the mile-high altitude, set a second world record in as many days with a W65 800m time of 2:44.35. Martin, in her first year competing in the W65 age group, set either an American or World record in every event she was entered in.
Longstanding champion female thrower Oneithea “Neni” Lewis (Queens, New York) broke the W55 weight throw world mark in 15.22m/49.11 on her third attempt. Also in the field events, 12-time world champion Bruce McBarnette (Sterling, Virginia) earned first place in the M55 high jump at 1.73m/5-08 after a jump off with Peter Hlavin of SC Striders Track Club.
Additional American records today included Jeanne Daprano (W80 800m), Gloria Krug (W85 triple jump), Kathy Bergen (W75 200m) and Southwest Sprinters (W40 4x400m relay). A full list of USATF Masters records to-date can be found here.
In the team competition, the top three men and women combined were So Cal Track Club, Southwest Sprinters Track Club, and Potomac Valley Track Club.
Many of this weekend’s champions and medalists will take part in the World Masters Association Championships in Daegu, South Korea, March 19-26. The next USATF Masters championship will be the 50th annual of the USATF Masters Outdoor Championships, July 13-16, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
5 Responses
Peter L. Taylor - February 19, 2017
Bob Lida is the youngest 80-year-old man in America, and I do enjoy saying that. He runs like a thoroughbred and makes us all proud. Can anyone imagine what it’s like to run 29.84 at age 80?
Doug Smith - February 20, 2017
A true legend, gentleman and, proud to say, good friend. Congrats, Bob!
John Impson - February 20, 2017
I brag to my friends that I run with world champions.
Bill F. - February 20, 2017
Once he left the blocks, he was moving at sub-4:00
mile speed!! – not bad at 80, matching Roger Bannister’s pace….
jimmy watson - June 3, 2018
I hope to be in New Mexico next year, will never see another Bob Lida in my lifetime, I’ll be running 50/100 maybe 200 best I can hope for is 7.00 and 15.00 nothing compared to Lida
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