M45 sprinter/hurdler Karnell Vickers using GoFundMe for Perth

Karnell Vickers

Karnell Vickers

The good news: USATF’s suggestion of masters using GoFundMe to raise money for Perth travel is spreading. The bad news: Karnell Vickers is only halfway to his $5,000 goal via GoFundMe. His local paper in Georgia says Vickers considers running more than a hobby, and “if he gets his chance to fulfill his dream of representing his country, he intends to win.” “I’ve been stepping it up,” he said of his crowd-funding efforts. “I’ve been posting on Facebook and messaging friends. I know how it goes. People see my posts, but it slides by. I want people to know I need their help.” USATF is helping Sabra Harvey and Don McGee with $1,500 travel grants, but that’s it for the track contingent.

Here’s the story in case you can’t get past the paywall:

Woodstock resident Anthony “Karnell” Vickers has been running his entire life, but now he finds himself in a race against time to raise funds to compete in the biggest event of his career.

Vickers is raising money in his bid to represent the United States in the World Masters Athletics Championships, which begins Oct. 26 in Perth, Australia.

Through his GoFundMe website, Vickers has raised nearly half of his $5,000 goal, but he knows raising the other half in a month will be a challenge.

“I’ve been stepping it up,” he said. “I’ve been posting on Facebook and messaging friends. I know how it goes. People see my posts, but it slides by. I want people to know, I need their help.”

Vickers said he also wants people to know that running is more than a hobby for him, and if he gets his chance to fulfill his dream of representing his country, he intends to win.

Vickers runs in the 45-49 age division, where he has the 10th-fastest time in the world this year in the 100-meter dash (11.47 seconds), the ninth-fastest time in the 200 (23.18) and the second-fastest time in the 400 hurdles (56.62).

Vickers is set to compete in all three events in Australia. Chances are good, based on his times, that coaches would also include him in the 400 and 1,600 relays, where he was part of a world record-setting team earlier this year.

Vickers has also been training at an increased rate, with weight room and on-track workouts three days each per week, and he plans to increase that regimen to two gym visits or three track workouts per day for the next two weeks before allowing his body to fully heal before world championships.

“I’m going to be fresh and ready to go,” Vickers said. “I’ve been working hard, and I want to set some world records. I think I’ll have a shot in all of my events. There are some new guys who just turned 45 that I haven’t raced before, but I’ll be right up there with them.”

With his training and his confidence taken care of, Vickers will now turn his total attention toward his fundraising efforts.

He already has his flight paid for, and he did catch a few breaks, like USA Track and Field paying for his gear and giving him a discount on the rest of the uniform and his athlete credential giving him free use of public transportation, but Vickers still needs to handle his hotel and daily expenses for his nearly two-week trip.

If he cannot raise the remaining funds through the GoFundMe page, Vickers said he would take out a loan to cover the difference.

“It’s something I’ve been working toward for a long time,” Vickers said. “I’ve always wanted to represent my country. I know I’m ready. I have the times to be there, and I know I can do well. I just have to raise the money to get there.”

In 1999, I tapped my 401(K) at work to pay for my Gateshead worlds trip. Took me years to pay it back (with interest). But I don’t regret it. I was 45, and it was the last time I three-stepped the 110 hurdles in my life (at least the first four hurdles).

I hope Karnell finds his angel.

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September 25, 2016

One Response

  1. Ken Stone - September 25, 2016

    W45 Indian lady also seeking help:
    http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=415750

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