Indiana’s Janet Sweet, long-sprint specialist, dies at age 80

Janet Sweet

Janet Sweet, one of the top W75 long sprinters in recent years, died a month ago of a brain hemorrhage, reports National Masters News (via email alert) and recent posted obituaries in Indiana. She won medals in the 200 or 400 at Landover indoor nationals and Oshkosh outdoor nationals and also competed last summer in the National Senior Games. Born in Dagenham, England, in 1929, she grew up in England and was in London during the blitz of World War II. In 1957 she worked for the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., where she met her husband, Arnold Sweet. Janet took up running in her 50s and moved from road races to track and field. A published death notice said: “A memorial service for Janet A. Sweet will start at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 14, 2010, in the East Faculty Lounge of the Purdue Memorial Union.” Our condolences to Arnold, also a masters athlete, and her friends.