Canadian Ted Rowan hurdles at 80.
ran a mile Saturday at the Running Room 36th Annual Indoor Games in Edmonton, Alberta. But whatta mile! Competing with two others, she clocked an incredible 8:19.70 to beat American
Gerry Davidson’s listed world record of 10:54.48 from 2005. Oh, and did I mention Helly is 80?
Here are results. Even more amazing, she called her shot to within a second!
She told Curtis Stock of the Edmonton Journal: “My goal is to run it in around 8 minutes and 20 seconds.” The article also quotes her as saying: “I don’t know what is happening with me. Since I turned 80, I keep breaking records. I can’t really explain it, but I have become faster and faster. Especially over the last couple of months.” Helly’s heroics almost eclipsed a wonderful Canadian masters nationals 2,100 miles to the southeast in Toronto. The two-day meet generated
26 national records, including six by M80
Ted Rowan. (With
Irene Obera joining the wrecking crew, 80 is the new hot age group.) Ted’s records came in the 50, 60, (they contested both at nationals), triple jump, pentathlon and pent high jump and long jump.
Results are here. And
Doug Smith’s photo gallery is here.
One Response
I want to know your secret Helly – wow – hope that happens to me – but I know it is not magic – Helly trains hard. Good luck in Budapest – come home with the gold.
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