Oscar Peyton says in his 20s he could have beaten Usain Bolt
M60 Oscar Peyton wasn’t boasting. He was just matter-of-fact talking about his never-realized potential as an open sprinter. Our frequent national sprint champ — who beats Bill Collins on rare occasions — was being featured in a local TV segment. He notes that he didn’t run track till his 50s. So his guess on his elite/open speed is as good as anyone’s. Gotta love the big guy (6-foot-4) comparing himself to the Jamaican legend.
Oscar takes the 2 at North Carolina nationals ahead of Damien Leake. Good lift.
8 Responses
One thing about masters track. There is aways someone out there that can beat you. They just don’t know it yet. But we masters welcome you to help us push the limits of our speed to the next higher level.
The writer of that article wrote that unbeatable stuff without my mention. I know as well as anyone that everyone is beatable including Usain Bolt. I have been beat enough by the greatest Masters sprinter to walk the earth (B. Collins and others) to know that. If I continue to compete, I will get beat some more. I am not in Masters Track to just beat up on people. I am in it to help each and everyone competing be the best that they can be. Masters track is not that serious for me. It is not how I make a living. I just like competing, keeping myself healthy and mingling with you guys.
Well said. As I said we help push each other to the next level or reality. I said reality because back in 2006 I thought I was fast until I met Bill Collins at the Penn Relays and a few others. That was an eye opener. I was humbled into trying some of the other events. I’m happy to say I am humbled every year by somebody. It’s a great challenge. We all make each other better.
It is likely we all could have run faster in our teens/20s had we run on the track surfaces available today (and with FAT timing). In fact there is a TED talk about whether athletes are running faster or whether the drop in times is due to better tracks. See: https://www.ted.com/talks/david_epstein_are_athletes_really_getting_faster_better_stronger/transcript
Oscar, you are a marvel. Since you burst on the scene about 10 tears ago, I have watched you win races and set records. Your competition with the “Legend,”Bill Collins has been a joy to watch every time, and is quite possibly the best series of sprint races I have seen in Masters competition.. It is also so good for Masters T & F to have you two head to head in races.
You are a wonderfully kind and gifted sprinter, and I wish nothing but fast times in the future.
Make that 10 years …not tears!!
What do his age-graded times equal?
Roger, you are the best. Just plain inspirational.
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