Willie Gault named USATF Athlete of the Week for 1/2 WRs in M50
How did I miss this? (Too busy with work, I guess.) Willie Gault’s M50 world records in the 100 and 200 at Oxy last weekend brought him Indy recognition: USATF Athlete of the Week. What’s the matter with the kidlets? Can’t they bring it anymore? In any case, Willie reveals he set the 200-meter WR out of lane 1, making his 22.44 mark even more amazing. What really needs to happen is Sacramento LOC and fellow M50s making a serious appeal for Willie to enter worlds. He could supercharge the 4×1 relay.
USATF dug up some great shots of Willie in action. Can he really be 50?
Here’s the Katie Landry profile posted May 11, 2011:
INDIANAPOLIS – Masters phenom Willie Gault has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after he set masters 50-54 world records in the 100 meter (10.88) and 200m (22.44) last weekend at the Occidental Invitational in Los Angeles.Willie Gault
Running against collegiate athletes, Gault was successful in turning in two record-breaking performances in the span of two-and-a-half hours. In his first race of the day, Gault bettered the nine-year-old 100m record of Bill Collins by seven-hundredths of a second. For the second race of the day, Gault faced a tight turn as he ran in lane one, but still managed to better the existing record by nearly one-tenth of a second.
While Gault has enjoyed a long run of sporting success in both track and football, the honor of setting a world record is not lost on the former Super Bowl and IAAF Track & Field World Champion.
“I cherish what I do,” Gault said. “I am very fortunate to be in this sport, and I don’t take it for granted. I just love the sport; track and field is the greatest sport in the world.”
Now in its tenth year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
10 Responses
Willie Gault certainly deserves this recognition (USATF Athlete of the Week), but I count nine USA M50 100M WMA entrants with seed times under 12 – the M50’s are loaded with talent already (without Willie).
Congratulations Willie. You are well deserving and the pride of Masters T&F.
You wont remember but I first met you about 20 years ago at a Masters track meet in Irvine Ca I wanted to meet you so I just walked right up to you and shook your hand. You were very gracious.
I also played trumpet in the Raiders band and saw you play football on many occasions at the L.A. Colosseum.
Class act! Way to go Willie.
Awesome job, Mr. Gault. You’re truly an inspiration to not only myself, but I am sure countless others. Continued success!
Laynes was at 10.39 today and 21.38 Very Quick.
http://warriorathletics.com/custompages/csustrack/HTML%20Results/2011/csus_twilight.htm
No wind posted on Laynes marks.
Willie Gault is now one of 80 men entered in the M50 100 at Sacramento Worlds and appears to be the overwhelming choice. Willie is also one of 75 men entered in the M50 200 and again appears to be the prohibitive choice.
Willie is not entered in the M50 400, where Michael Sullivan looks like the choice but not to the degree that Willie will be in the 100 and 200.
There has been much speculation and in some instances insistance that Willie Gault move up to the 400 and challenge the WR. Not every sprinter can or wants to run the 400, perhaps Willie is not suited for the 400 and maybe he does not like it. Years ago I thought Carl Lewis would make a great 1/4 miler, he did not like the race. The 1/4 is a different animal, many sprinters run it once and say, back to the 100. Willie can make up his own mind without pressure from anyone to move up, he is one of the greats at being a short sprinter and seems to enjoy what he is doing, let’s enjoy watching him.
Wooohooooo! Willie at worlds!
What are my bets on M50 world record in the 4×1?
Current WR is 44.77.
Willie appeared on WGN’s morning news this morning and “raced” the local sports guy in their parking lot. It was hilarious! He gave the sports guy a huge head start and was on wireless microphone during the race telling the guy “You’re in trouble…” as he passed him easily. Afterwards, he wasn’t even out of breath. The sports guy asked him about his recent masters records too. Very cool! Willie’s always been a good guy since his Chicago Bear days and hasn’t changed a bit.
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