Nadine O’Connor today lowered her own W65 world record in the 100, running 14.10 seconds at Cal State San Marcos in north San Diego County. Moments later, Harold Tolson ran against other M65s in his first race since his abrupt retirement four years ago. Harold, who turns 70 in December, said he entered to guage his speed. His USATF membership has lapsed, but he’s now revisit his decision to quit the sport.

Also at the annual Chuck McMahon Memorial Masters meet, NFL Hall of Famer James Lofton gutted out a 400 in about 54 seconds in an M50 race — made more miserable by a stress fracture in his left foot.
All this with CSUSM track coach Steve Scott, whose American record in the mile turns 25 next week, doing the meet announcing. More details and a photo gallery will be posted soon.
Nadine’s previous age-group best at 100 was 14.11 — set at the Mt. SAC Relays in April. Today Nadine also ran a 28.84 wind-aided 200, just off the 28.83 she ran in May at the Striders meet in Long Beach. That race also was wind-aided. The world record remains 30.46 by Irene Obera in August 1999.
In 2003, former national champion Harold Tolson quit track, partly as a protest against what he considered USATF’s failure to accord masters the respect they deserve (not helping subsidize elite masters athletes, etc.) His return to competition was a surprise, and he looked fit (if a little heavier) in his loss to fellow M65 Doug Smith in today’s race.
In the late 1990s and early 200s, Harold was one of the top-ranked age-group sprinters in the world, and was a subject of newspaper articles on active senior athletes.
In April 1998, The San Diego Union-Tribune ran this profile of Harold:

Background Tolson, 60, sprinted in high school at Los Angeles’ Manual Arts High. Despite running 100 yards in 10 seconds, he never ran on the varsity
at a school noted for its sprinters because “I wasn’t considered very fast.”
Power of the press After high school, Tolson settled into the work force. He ran some distance races in his mid-50s. Three years ago he saw an ad in
the newspaper, publicizing the San Diego Senior Olympic Games. Tolson plopped down $10 and won five races over two days — the 50 meters, 200, 400, 800 and 5K. “Of course, I couldn’t walk for a week. I was stiff as a board.”
World record holder Two weeks ago in Boston, Tolson set a world record for men 60-65 in the 60 meters, winning the USA Track & Field Masters Indoor
Nationals in 7.75 seconds. The old record, set 21 years ago, was 7.8 seconds. One of the best aspects of the weekend was that board members of the San Diego Senior Olympic Committee raised money to send Tolson to the meet. “It was the most unselfish thing I’ve experienced in my life because they didn’t owe me anything,” said Tolson. “I’m doing this for fun.”
Workout menu On Monday, Tolson lifts weights for 45 minutes, all focused on his legs. Tuesday, he runs four 300-meter sprints aimed at 45 seconds or
less. Thursday, he runs eight 200s aimed at 27 seconds. Saturday, he runs 10 x 50 and 10 x 100. He stretches for 40 minutes before he runs.
Devout Christian Tolson sings in the choir and is a deacon at Bay View Baptist Church. “I enjoy ministering to people,” he said. “That’s the biggest joy I experience, being helpful.”