Earl Fee added to legend with M80 world record in 200 hurdles

Earl Fee

Canada’s Earl Fee knows how to peak. This year, it was at the WMA regional championships in Puerto Rico, where he ran a new event (for masters at least) — the 200-meter hurdles. His time of 36.95 seconds apparently broke the pending M80 world best of 42 seconds. Earl wrote me yesterday: “My form does not seem great over this last hurdle but the announcer was impressed. . . . It is my first time to race this event, so I was not sure of what speed to start at. I had been practicing at a slower pace.” Looks like Earl found his mojo in Mayaguez. How amazing is 36.95 at Earl’s age of 81? That time would rank No. 6 in the USATF masters rankings — for the flat 200-meter dash. It would have taken silver at the Sacramento nationals in the flat 200.

Earl flies over last barrier in his M80 world record. (Photo by Francesco Lopez)

New York’s Marilyn Mitchell, active in the WMA region as NCCWMA women’s representative, also took these nice shots during after Earl’s WR:

Earl strains near the finish, breaking the 40, 39, 38 and 37-second barriers.

Earl continues to deliver on his promise of excellence in aging athleticism, as outlined in his books.

The signboard says it all: a nearly solo run into hurdling history.

Earl was an interview subject of mine after the 2005 San Sebastian world meet.

Earl is excused for not being immediately ready to take questions from NBC.

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September 10, 2010

12 Responses

  1. pino pilotto - September 10, 2010

    The 36.95 of Earl Fee is very amazing.
    BTW:
    A former great hurdler, Eddy Ottoz, Italy, born 1944 and bronce medall in Mexico City 1968 with 13.46 in the 110 m hurdles, is started 10 days ago after 40 years of no-runnig-over-hurdles, in the 200 hurdles.
    His time: 44.84″

  2. Jerry Smartt - September 10, 2010

    Earl’s a beauty. Terrific speed. Big congrats, Earl. I saw that Earl was DNF in the 800. Anyone know the reason? Saving it for the 200 hurdles? The good news is that he must not have been injured. Superguy, never stop. Smartty

  3. Rick Riddle - September 10, 2010

    Congratulations to the humble, yet magnificent Mr. Fee.

  4. peter taylor - September 10, 2010

    That’s why he is called The Great Earl Fee. I estimate that no more than 2% of the general U.S. population aged 60+ could break 37 seconds for the 200. The Great Earl does it at the age of 81, over hurdles no less.

    Keep on keeping on, Great Earl.

  5. peter taylor - September 10, 2010

    Sorry to post twice, but we are talking about The Great Earl. I mean that no more than 2% of the general US population in the 60-69 age range (not 60 and over) could break 37 for the 200 (in my opinion). That’s just a warmup for Earl.

    Remember also that Earl has battled a variety of physical problems over the last few years, especially a condition that limits the amount he can run.

  6. Stefan Walterman - September 10, 2010

    Look out for his new book to be published soon!!!

  7. Terry Parks - September 10, 2010

    Congratulations to Mr. Fee. I had the pleasure of meeting him in Sacramento and he is a class act both on and off the track.

  8. Terry Ballou - September 10, 2010

    Very, very impressive. You are such an inspiration. Keep up the great work!

  9. Duncan Greenshields - September 10, 2010

    It’s wonderful to see Earl back in action. As posted earlier, Earl has had several nagging injuries the past while. He was not able to run in the Canadian championships because of them. But always a great competitor.

  10. bad news Barnes- slow strinter - September 10, 2010

    Earl the pearl is my idol-

  11. Horace Grant - September 10, 2010

    Outstanding! Congratulations Mr.Fee.

  12. Richard Ochoa - November 8, 2010

    Earl, you are a great inspiration for all us older guys! Do you do Marathons? I’m 71 with 36 Marathons behing me! It seems each year for the past 5 or 6, was gonna be my last. I have a bad hip, so times are much slower than in past due to more walking during the races. You inspire me to do Just ONE More!!!!!

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