Earl Fee snags his first M80 world record — indoors at 400
No breakdown of the timing system in Toronto. Yesterday at the Ontario Masters Indoor Championships, Earl Fee crushed the listed age-group WR in the 400. A week after turning 80 and being denied an 800 WR at Landover nationals amid the timing mess, The Great Earl clocked 1:11.23 — well under the 1:15.58 indoor world record by American Roderick Parker in 1999. See a great series of photos of Earl’s latest WR by Doug Smith. On the Age-Graded Tables, Earl’s time corresponds to an Open (ages 20-30) equivalent of 43.32. Utterly incredible. (Try running a lap at your local high school track nearly 9 seconds under your age!)
Here is Earl. He has no peer. The M80 champ at the Eurovets meet in Italy,
Marcos Bermejo of Spain, won the 400 title in 1:32.26.
10 Responses
Earl,
Besides all of the masters athletes I admired before I came on the scene, you – and I still remember the conversation we had as you handed me your first book in Brisbane,Australia- Sid Howard and Nolan Shaheed are the ones I envision myself on and off the track…..Truly incredible individuals, inside and out. Congratulations, my friend.
Saladin (Sal)Allah
45-49 800m record holder
There’s only one person in the world they call “The Great Earl,” and that would be the man from Mississauga — The Great Earl Fee. Notice the form — 99% of people in their 20s could not match Earl for style.
You’re the best of ALL TIME, Earl.
Peter T.
Earl Fee is without question one of the most remarkable masters athletes of all time. He is also one of the most approachable, kindest and unpretentious people in Masters Track. He deserves all the praise he receives and more. Keep chugging my friend and raise the competition bar for all of us to shoot for.
And thanks for your great book loaded with knowledge (and not just for training ) for all of us.
I think Earl Fee is amazing. I love to tell people about him (they probably wish I’d just shut up about him!) He is also humble and friendly at meets, and always has a minute to chat with me. And his book is a pleasure to read and by far my favorite training reference.
….and Pete, when I heard you refer to him as The Great Earl in a meet you were announcing,I knew you thought of him as I did…..as simply an incredible athlete we were witnessing!
I believe Earl has in-fact found the fountain of youth….I believe the Great Earl in his living & running obviously know we all get slower, but he also know as I do, “I just want to get slower, slower than everybody else”. Get it ?!
Sal
Just INCREDIBLE lift for an 80 year old!!
Truly inspiring!
I’ve been inspired by Earls running for years and he ALWAYS runs a great race. He competes in the hurdles as well as 400m up to the mile and is world class in all. The few times I’ve seen him not win a race at a meet is when he had already run several races prior, at record pace but still takes his competition down to the wire. A true champion.
I’m amazed at how nice of a man he is.THE GREAT EARL !!
Nolan
It was/is an honour and a privilege to be an official at Earl’s races over the years. Whenever he (and Ed Whitlock) take to the track the expectation of greatness is often realized.
Yesterday was no exception.
Echoing Bill’s remarks – it makes the job of Meet Director so worthwhile when something so phenomenal happens at the meet. The only thing that get me is that that I call the media – TV and newspapers, guaranteeing them a World Record by a local athlete – and no one shows. Oh well, the Masters community finds out (thanks to Ken)and they appreciate the man and his unbelievable performance.
I am flabergasted by these uplifting comments. I always think I should have run faster. But my simple secret is to age slower than my rivals (those that are left) with a healthy lifestyle and some red wine. And hard work you enjoy pays off every time. These comments above will keep my going and going till 100+. My new book; 100 Years Young the Natural Way (out in few months) will help also. Thanks a million my dear friends. I am blessed with your company. You are all a further great inspiration.
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