Stacey Noble, a W45 multi-eventer headed for Lyon worlds, has a few modest goals: Do well in the heptathlon, 80-meter hurdles and long jump. And if she’s lucky, set a few records. She tells her local paper south of Sacramento “she’d also like to set the women’s age 45-49 national and world records in the long jump and 80-meter hurdles,” the El Grove Citizen reports, which quotes her as saying: “I’ve always enjoyed the freedom of running and jumping and the personal challenge of improving my marks on my own terms. So I re-entered the world of track and field with USA Masters Track and Field at the age of 44.” Stacey is 45 now. At Jax nationals, she took silver in the pentathlon with 2013 points, clocking 17.34 in the hurdles and spanning 4.24 meters (13-11) in the long jump. The W45 American records are 12.07 and 5.37 (17-7½) — both by Joy Upshaw. But she’s probably taking the long view, so good for her.

Here’s the story, in case the link goes buh-bye:

By Jon Gudel – Sports Editor
Published: Wednesday, July 29, 2015 2:29 PM PDT

Traveling to France for the summer is typically meant to be a relaxing vacation. Not for Stacey Noble.

The trip is part business and relaxation.

Noble, a sixth-grade teacher at Morse Elementary in the Elk Grove Unified School District, is participating in the World Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships Aug. 4-16 in Lyon, France. She will compete in the multi-event heptathlon (seven events), the open 80-meter hurdles and the open long jump.

Before departing for France, Noble is competing in the pentathlon at the USA Track and Field Masters Outdoor National Championships in Jacksonville, Florida, which concludes Sunday. She also sang the National Anthem during Thursday’s open ceremonies.

“I am so fortunate to be able to combine my love of teaching, singing, and track and field in such an awesome way,” said Noble, 45. “Like I tell my students, ‘Be the best you that you can be, and be all you can be.’”

Noble, also the track coach at Morse Elementary, competed in track and field events for more than a decade, including in college at UC Berkeley and Sacramento State. After receiving her undergraduate degree, she essentially retired from track and field and instead focused on establishing a post-track career in education and starting a family.

She married and has two sons.

Noble also pursued a music career and earned a Master’s degree in education.

But, after more than two decades of not competing, she had a desire to get back on the track. Part of her competitiveness to return to the sport in her mid-40s was driven by her students and still being involved in track and field, if even in more of a teaching role.

Although she coached her school’s track and field team, she admitted that, “my love of competing in the sport was still there.”

“At my elementary school, we are fortunate to have a track on campus, so during the school year, I would often practice at the end of the school day on our track, then head to the gym for strength training,” Noble said. “One of the many perks of being a school teacher is having time off during the summer months. Since my last day of the school year in June, I’ve generally practiced four times weekly.”

Her training session generally consists of 1-2 hours per day, usually with one day each for throwing, running and jumping events as well as another for strength conditioning.

Michael Reid, an assistant track coach at American River College, is training Noble this summer in preparation for both the national meet and world championships.

Noble doesn’t just want to compete again, she wants to set records. Her lofty 2015 goals include wanting to become a national pentathlon champion in her age division in July at the Masters National Track and Field Championships in Florida, along with being a world champion in her age division in August at the Masters World Championships in France.

She is already currently the Pacific Association champion in the long jump, triple jump, high jump, shot put and javelin, and holds All-American status in all three jumping events.

The USA Track and Field Masters Division provides the opportunity for track and field athletes who are at least 35 years old to compete in a pressure-free, no standard qualifying environment. Participants compete in five-year interval age divisions, beginning with age 35.

Noble’s division is 45-49.

“I don’t know what the future holds, but I can see myself competing for many years to come,” she said. “I am a true track and field athlete, meaning I enjoy a variety of events. So after being a sprinter/long jumper as a youngster, I decided to become a heptathlete in the Masters division where I compete in seven events.”

Noble is world and nationally ranked and is a 2015 USA Track and Field Pacific Association five-time gold medalist champion, according to a press release.

“People aren’t as familiar with Masters Track and Field as they are with the Open Division,” she said. “Masters track and field is probably more exciting to watch than the Open Division because you get to see 35 to 100-plus year olds perform some pretty phenomenal feats.”

Noble was introduced to the sport at the age of 8 by her father, a former track and field athlete and football player himself. She competed in the 100 and 200 meters and long jump throughout elementary, middle school and high school and also joined the UC Berkeley track and field team before an injury her sophomore year preceded a transfer to Sacramento State.

She set the Sac State record in the long jump at 20 feet, 1½ inches.

This is her first year competing at the Masters level. To that, she’s created a Go Fund Me page to assist in her travel expenses.

“In my experience with other Masters athletes, only those athletes with the strongest will, drive and determination compete on Masters Track and Field Team USA,” said Noble. “I’m privileged to be part of such an elite group of phenomenal athletes and can’t wait to show and tell my students all about my summer.”