W45 Emma McGowan joins Sub-60 Club with indoor AR in 400

Emma leads collegians in her 59.30 at Emory.

Emma schools collegians in her 59.30 at Emory.

A couple weeks back at the Emory Crossplex Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama, 47-year-old Emmanuelle “Emma” McGowan broke out of a box and into the American record books. The W45 Lyon world champ at 100 and 400 relay clocked 59.30 for the 400, nipping the listed American indoor record of 59.37 by Charmaine Roberts in 2014. (Results are here.) Emma, coached by Clifton Culpepper at Maximum Quotient TC, graciously answered my questions. She obviously has a lot left in the tank. Emma writes: “Before I ran that 400 (lane 5) I was nervous even if it was my second race this indoor season. Not a good push in my blocks at all; it looked like I was running an 800! Then I got boxed in after the break line. As soon as I completed the first lap, I was thinking I have to make my move after the curve. I made it and started catching up the college girls one by one, and trust me it wasn’t easy. At the finish line, I checked the clock right away; I wanted to run sub-60 because in December I ran 1.00.57. Got very pleased with the results — mission accomplished!”

MaxQuo's 47y/o Emma McGowan Kogalama runs a Masters Indoor World best 59.30 400M at Emory Invite in Birmingham AL.

Posted by Clifton Culpepper on Sunday, January 24, 2016

Emma also says:

My goals for indoor nationals coming up next month in Albuquerque is PR every one of my events — 60, 200, 400. Those were the ones I won indoor nationals in 2015.

Emma with her coach, Clifton Culpepper.

Emma with her coach, Clifton Culpepper.

April 2016 will be my first outdoor opening season 4-by-100 and 4-by-400 at Penn Relays with my girls Renee Henderson/Shepherd, Toccata Murphy and Donna Lawrence. Then others outdoor meets in May or June and nationals in Michigan this summer.

My all-time bests were in my late 20s, early 30s. 
(2015 are my masters times.)

Indoor
60 7.71 (7.94 in 2015)
200 24.84 (25.98 in 2015), 400m 55.35 (59.30 Jan. 2016).

Outdoor
100 11.93 (12.40 June 2015)
200 23.97 (25.85 August 2015)
400 54.61 (59.02 August 2015)

Emma also has launched a GoFundMe page to raise money to defray expenses to Perth 2016 worlds.

Update: When I noticed on her GoFundMe page that she told of her moving to America from France, I pinged Emma again. She responded: “I grow up in France, born and raised In Lille France. My husband is from Chicago; we met in 1994 in St. Louis when I was Au pair for one year. Moved in Des Plaines, IL, in 1998. Married since 1998.”

Print Friendly

February 9, 2016

9 Responses

  1. Peter L. Taylor - February 10, 2016

    Emma has been pretty sensational, to say the least. She kind of sneaked up on me, but in recent meets I’ve expected great things from her, and she has delivered. We know the big names (Renee Shepherd, Bill Collins, Oscar Peyton, Irene Obera, etc.), but we have to be ready to add to the list. Emma will be on the “short list” very soon.

    Emma, I will see you in Albuquerque. As far as the Penn Relays, good luck there. I’ve given up going to Penn; make sure you ask someone to get absolutely everything you need when you break a record, including zero control test, starter’s signature, referee’s signature (there is no masters referee at Penn), FAT photo, etc., etc.

    As I say, I won’t be going to Penn any more, but I hope you set a record and get it approved.

  2. Emma McGowan - February 10, 2016

    Thank you so much Peter Taylor for believing in me.
    I have a great Coach, our hard work pays off and results are showing!
    2015 was an awesome year for me and hopefully I’ll do the same for 2016.
    See you soon Peter.
    Emma

  3. Terry Ballou - February 10, 2016

    Emma, what a smoking 400!!! Love watching you run and look forward to seeing you in New Mexico. Congrats on your American record!

  4. Renee Shepherd - February 10, 2016

    Awesome race Emma!! Glad we were first to snatch you up for Penn’s. (See you at the party!!) Xoxo!!

  5. Myrle Mensey - February 11, 2016

    Great job Emma, also congrats to your Coach Clifton, nice guy.

  6. Emma McGowan - February 11, 2016

    Thank you Renee and Terry!
    Can’t wait to see you in Albuquerque track family’s!
    Emma

  7. Emma McGowan - February 11, 2016

    Thank you Myrle Mensey!
    Emma

  8. Julie Hayden - February 12, 2016

    I loved watching you run from the minute I first saw you Emma. Once we met, I quickly realized what a wonderful, modest, positive and encouraging person you were. The more I learn, the more I am impressed by everything about you. Congratulations Emma! Your relay at Penn with Renee, Toccata and Donna will be something special, but looking forward to seeing you in Albuquerque before then.:)

  9. Emma McGowan - February 13, 2016

    Julie Hayden you are so sweet!
    Thank you for your comment and I can’t wait to see you again in Albuquerque. See you in 3 weeks!
    Emma

Leave a Reply