Willie Gault named USATF Athlete of the Week
Not bad for a 44-year-old sprinter. Willie has been having a sensational, phenomenal season — and USATF has finally recognized it by naming him its Athlete of the Week. He’ll have a chance to add to his legend tomorrow at the Carson nationals, where he’ll shoot for the world M40 record at 110 hurdles against current record holder (13.73) David Ashford as well as former stud Henry Andrade and Bay Area sensation Peter Grimes. Another Willie — Willie Banks — was an Athlete of the Week about five years ago.
Here is the USATF news release:
INDIANAPOLIS – Willie Gault has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after adding the M40 American record in the 200m to the 100m record (10.73) he set at Occidental College in early May.
At the Southern California Association USATF Masters Championships on June 11 held at West Los Angeles College in Culver City, Gault ran a wind-aided 10.60 for 100, but followed that an hour later with a legal 21.80 for 200. The listed American record for 200 in the M40 age group is Bill Collins’ 21.86 from 1992.
Earlier, Gault anchored a 41.4 (hand-timed) relay that bettered the listed world record. He also ran 110m hurdles with a 2.0 (legal) wind. He is slated to run the 110 hurdles Sunday, June 27, in a Masters exhibition race at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Carson, Calif.. He will face current M40 record-holder (13.73) David Ashford at the Home Depot Center.
Gault, widely considered one of the most versatile athletes of all time, is best known for his blazing speed that helped the Chicago Bears win the 1985 Super Bowl. Gault then went on to enjoy several more standout seasons with the Los Angeles Raiders.
The former All-American football and track star from the University of Tennessee made his mark away from the gridiron too. He won two Olympic Gold Medals and also helped the United States win the 4-man bobsled Gold Medal at the 1988 World Championships with a world record run. In 1990, Gault was honored with the Jim Thorpe All-Around Athlete Award.
3 Responses
Gault and the others were awesome! Watched the replay on TV and even my kids said, “Dad, he’s a Masters Runner!!”
good run’n fellas
tony
Willie is a great athlete…awesome…..did anyone ever hear of a Masters hurdler named Courtland Gray???? he not too bad himself…and has run (and WON ) more than a few significant races…on my way home from work at the Armory one night last winter i was reading an old issue of Track and Field News and who appeared on the World leading lists BUT Mr Gray!!!!! What a shame that Mr Gray will NEVER be given the chance Gault was….reason??? Hes too OLD!!!! Hows that for MASTERS TRACK and FIELD at its best!!!!!
Cool, there are actually some worthwhile points on here some of my friends will find this worthwhile, I will send them a link, many thanks.
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