Willie Gault thinks he can run 10.5 at 50, mulls NFL comeback
Willie Gault at 2009 Mt. SAC Relays
Willie Gault, bless his 49-year-old heart, has gone off the deep end. On the eve of his annual appearance at the Mt. SAC Relays, he’s dropping hints that he’d like to play in the NFL again “if the right situation” arises. That ambition was posted in this Sports Illustrated report. And Thursday night, he also told a sports-talk radio program in San Diego that he thinks he can run the 100 in 10.5 at age 50, which happens in early September. (The M50 WR is 10.95 by Bill Collins.) Listen to him here(just ignore several minutes of ads). In the phone chat, Willie also hinted why he hasn’t run in many masters meets — and sticks to the open/invitational races at Mt. SAC: “I like to challenge myself.” Translation: Masters don’t challenge him. Last year, he ran an anchor leg in the 4×1 against Tyson Gay, and “I was hoping to beat him.” Willie doesn’t lack for confidence.
Every sprinter has a dream and an ego that drives the passion for speed. It doesn’t matter how old we get. I thought I would quit if I ever saw 11 seconds in the 100m. Now I’m 61 looking for sub 13’s. Feels great.
Ken Stone - April 19, 2010
Also was sent this from Mt. SAC results:
Section 5 Wind: 2.0
1 Gavin Robertson Wisconsin 21.60
2 Reindell Cole Cal St. Northridge 21.62 [21.611]
3 Eric Capelle Boise State 21.87
4 Willie Gault HSI International 21.88
5 Bryan Adams UC Riverside 21.91
6 Anthony Yakovich Western Oregon 22.21
7 Bojurie Rogers-wright Unattached 22.24
8 Joe Pearson UC Irvine 22.59
keith mcquitter - April 19, 2010
I just like willie to run hurdles again he beat me in 1986 i think ,now we are older when he hits M50 it would be nice for willie to run hurdles again hint hint.
matt bogdanowicz - April 20, 2010
So these are single age 49 World records for both 100/200 I take it? 10.5 seems implausible but he is incredible, maybe close to the 10.72 for 100 he ran at age 45. This would be incredible because it would show basically no decline in performance over 5 years
Ken has followed track as an athlete, writer and web-master since the late 1960s, and saw most sessions of track and field at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He also attended the 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Trials, the last three as a blogger and Patch correspondent. [More...]
5 Responses
Actually, Willie Gault ran Friday — in the University/Open 100 at Mt. SAC.
Results:
Section 3 Wind: 1.2
1 Dominic Artis South Dakota 10.65 [10.644]
2 Andrew Nathan British Columbia 10.80 [10.794]
3 Allante Battle Arizona State 10.81
4 Willie Gault HSI International 10.86 [10.858]
5 Victor Chin Florida Int’l 10.86 [10.860]
6 Jahmar Rashad USC 10.91
7 Terrence Abram USC 11.01
Every sprinter has a dream and an ego that drives the passion for speed. It doesn’t matter how old we get. I thought I would quit if I ever saw 11 seconds in the 100m. Now I’m 61 looking for sub 13’s. Feels great.
Also was sent this from Mt. SAC results:
Section 5 Wind: 2.0
1 Gavin Robertson Wisconsin 21.60
2 Reindell Cole Cal St. Northridge 21.62 [21.611]
3 Eric Capelle Boise State 21.87
4 Willie Gault HSI International 21.88
5 Bryan Adams UC Riverside 21.91
6 Anthony Yakovich Western Oregon 22.21
7 Bojurie Rogers-wright Unattached 22.24
8 Joe Pearson UC Irvine 22.59
I just like willie to run hurdles again he beat me in 1986 i think ,now we are older when he hits M50 it would be nice for willie to run hurdles again hint hint.
So these are single age 49 World records for both 100/200 I take it? 10.5 seems implausible but he is incredible, maybe close to the 10.72 for 100 he ran at age 45. This would be incredible because it would show basically no decline in performance over 5 years
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