Ottey lowers W45 60-meter record to unreal 7.36!
Racing against the kids yesterday at the KBC meet in Gent, Belgium, 46-year-old Merlene Ottey lowered her own recent W45 world record for 60 meters twice — first to 7.40 in a heat and then to 7.36 in the final. The IAAF reports: “Merlene . . . came in fourth in 7.36, commenting after the race, ‘Age doesn’t count. I’m always as hungry and as motivated as I’ve ever been. I set goals and I try to achieve them. That is what sports is all about. When the major championships arrive, I want to be in. Never count me out.’ ” We won’t, Merlene! We promise! Honest! But 7.36 is insane. On the Age-Graded Tables, it’s equivalent to an open time of 6.64. Insane. (And here’s a photo of her before the race. Doesn’t look a day past 26!)
The Merlene Ottey Tribute news page relates:
4 February 2007: Ottey takes 4th place in Ghent
At the KBC Indoor meeting in Ghent today Merlene Ottey managed to secure herself another two World Masters Record (45+). Ottey finished 4th in the final in 7.36 sec. after having run 7.40 sec. in the heats. The race was won by Jeanette Kwakye (GBF) in 7.27 sec.
60 metres final:
1. Jeanette Kwakye (GBR): 7.27
2. Iryna Shtanhyeyeva UKR): 7.32
3. Muriel Hurtis (FRA): 7.33
4. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 7.36 WMR
5. Dorota Dydo (POL): 7.37
6. Elisabeth Davin (BEL): 7.45
7. Fabienne Beret-Martinel (FRA): 7.47
8. Pascal van Assendelft (NED): 7.48
60 metres heat 2:
1. Dorota Dydo (POL): 7.39
2. Iryna Shtanhyeyeva UKR): 7.39
3. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 7.40 WMR
4. Elisabeth Davin (BEL): 7.47
5. Fabienne Beret-Martinel (FRA): 7.49
6. Carima Louami (FRA): 7.50
7. Kathleen de Caluwe (BEL): 7.54
8. Eline Berings (BEL): 7.56
Merlene’s all-time best is 6.96 (a correction from earlier post) –– which was a world indoor record when she ran this in February 1992. So she’s lost about three-hundredths of a second a year for 15 years.
At this rate, I won’t beat her until she’s 212. (And only if I stay 52.)
2 Responses
Wow!If I can lose 40 to 50 lbs I will give her a run for her money.She looks terrific.Way to go Merlene!
Merlene Ottey is an inspiration!
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