108-Year-Old World Record Holder Passes Away

October 26, 2024

Oct 26, 2024 | Edition #42

👋 Hey, Speedsters!

TTrack and field is a sport for the fearless! It’s for those who don’t flinch at the sound of a challenge. Julia Hawkins certainly embodied this spirit when, at the age of 100, she signed up for competitive running! But, after 8 years of daring to live the life of a centenarian runner, we've now lost the oldest woman to ever compete in a sanctioned American track meet. 

Speaking of hardcore track athletes, Fred Kerley may not be on the Athlete of the Year nominee list, but he represents that same challenger spirit. He famously tweeted about his ambition to break Usain Bolt's world record. Is he dreaming big, or does ‘Fred 2.0’ truly have what it takes with his new coach? And don't miss how one of track and field's most historic Olympics made it to the Oscars' talk!

Let’s dive in!

📜 QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The reward is not so great without the struggle.”

— Wilma Rudolph

In today’s newsletter, we’ll uncover these top stories from Track & Field universe:

💖 Farewell to Julia ‘Hurricane‘ Hawkins at 108

👀 Carl Lewis Reacts to Student's Decision

😲 Fred Kerley’s Bold Statement

😔 Gold and Grief: Munich’s Dark Day

🫡Tribute to

Remembering Julia Hawkins: A Legacy in Track and Field

You're never too old for the track—Julia "Hurricane" Hawkins proved it! She shattered expectations in a sport where age is often seen as a barrier. For her 100th birthday, her sons signed her up for the Louisiana Senior Olympic Games, where she sprinted the 50-meter dash in just 19 seconds. This ignited a passion for racing, and she only got faster, eventually setting the world record in the 100m dash for women over 100, clocking in at 39.62 seconds. But now, at 108, the world has bid farewell to this spirited runner, who often raced with a flower tucked behind her ear.

Her daughter, Margaret Matens, confirmed Hawkins’ passing last Tuesday and shared that her mother had arranged to donate her body to LSU's Pennington Biomedical Research Center, which is known for studying longevity. Matens fittingly remarked, that her mother had "quite the run." Known as 'Hurricane' Hawkins (read to know why), she was indeed a force of nature. Fans cheered as she raced by, and many eagerly sought her autograph. Originally a competitive cyclist in her 70s, it was on the track that she truly made history.

How remarkable was her journey? At 103, Hawkins became the oldest woman to compete in a sanctioned track meet in the U.S. And in 2021, she completed the 100m dash in 1 minute and 2.95 seconds, prompting the National Senior Games Association to establish a 105+ age category just for her! This made her the first American to set a track record at 105, an achievement that left a lasting legacy in the sport. Her journey began with dashes to answer the phone in her yard, but it grew into unprecedented feats in competitive sprinting. Through it all, her love for bonsais, her family, and her late husband remained as steadfast as her spirit.

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📊 POLL OF THE DAY

The Senior Olympics, also known as the National Senior Games, were established to encourage older adults (50 years and older) to engage in sports and physical activities. So here’s today’s question:

Who Holds the Record as the Oldest Athlete to Ever Compete in the Olympics?

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Last Poll’s Result: In our latest edition, we asked about the highest NIL valuation for a track and field athlete as of 2024, and responses were tied between $500,000 and $1.5 million. The correct answer? $1.1 million! Sam Hurley, a junior decathlete from the University of Texas, currently leads the field with an impressive NIL valuation. His social media following of over 4.9 million fans has propelled him to the top spot, attracting endorsements and a NIL figure unmatched in collegiate track and field.

🗣️Debate of the Day

Student’s Bold Move Leaves Coach Lewis Disappointed

It’s not every day we witness a high-profile coach-athlete breakup, but here we are! American legend Carl Lewis and his promising pupil from the University of Houston, Louie Hinchliffe, have officially parted ways. And what a year it’s been for Hinchliffe! Not only did he make history as the first European man to snag the NCAA 100m title, but he also reached out to Lewis with a bold request: “Can you help me?” Clearly, Lewis’s magic worked, as Hinchliffe cleared the Olympic Trials too. His mantra? Stay focused and don’t sweat the competition, even if that competition includes stars like ‘Noah Lyles’. Sadly, a narrow miss kept him from the finals, but it might have ignited his desire to turn pro after just one year at Houston.

Lewis has his reservations. He’s famously said, “Leaving early and turning pro is fool’s gold in track,” urging Hinchliffe to finish his education first. But was that degree really Hinchliffe’s dream? It seems not. After the Paris Olympics, he decided to jump into the professional arena, prompting Lewis to step back—after all, he only coaches athletes who prioritize their education. Lewis, who regrets not sticking around for a full four years himself, believes a solid college experience is essential. With a teaching background in his family, he envisions athletes with degrees as role models for the next generation. When Hinchliffe left, it was all goodwill—no hard feelings from Lewis. 

Now, Hinchliffe has teamed up with a fellow Brit, Richard Kilty, the Great Britain relay coach. After chatting with multiple American coaches, it was Kilty who gave him that special feeling. This choice raises eyebrows, especially since Lewis always believed in Hinchliffe’s sprinting potential, saying, “I have nine golds and I’m rich—I’m doing this for Louie, not me.” Their bond was even on display when Hinchliffe helped the British team clinch bronze in the 4×100m relay at the Paris Olympics, edging out the USA team in a thrilling showdown.

So, was this a smart move for Hinchliffe? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: the track just got a lot more interesting!

📽️ Video Vault

Life of Juli ‘Hurricane‘ Hawkins!

8 months ago, Julia Hawkins turned 108! And on the occasion of her birthday, the runner gave a rundown of her life. From her love for gardening to writing letters to her husband during World War II, and having people cheer for her during runs, the legend gives all the lovely insights into her life! Watch the video to get a closer look into who she was!!!

🏃🏻 Athlete Spotlight

Fred Kerley Makes Daring Declaration

Fred Kerley doesn’t shy away from bold declarations. In May 2024, he stirred the pot with a tweet that read, "World record next time I touch the 100m.” This put him in the mix with Noah Lyles, both aiming for Usain Bolt's legendary 9.58 time. But let’s be real—given that his fastest run that year was a 10.03s, it felt a bit like shooting for the stars. When the U.S. Olympic Trials rolled around, reality bit hard: Kerley clocked just 9.88s in the semifinals, falling short of his audacious goal. But don’t count him out just yet.

In a recent chat on the Ready Set Go podcast, Justin Gatlin quizzed him, "Was that [the WR tweet] more of putting people on notice?" Kerley shot back, “Nah, that was not putting people on notice. The next time I step on the track, it will possibly be a world record.” He explained that his intense training—what he called “stupid”—would’ve led to a standout performance had it translated to race day. He’s convinced the events in New York were just the beginning of his comeback as the real ‘Fred Kerley.

In 2023, after a tough time defending his 100m title in Budapest, Kerley switched his coach with Quincy Watts. While the 2024 season hasn’t been dazzling yet, he’s just 0.20 seconds away from breaking his personal best of 9.76s to snag that world record. Given his recent times, including a solid 9.81s this year, it seems well within reach.

Kerley has been hitting the gym hard, focusing on strength training and even taking some swings in baseball practice—a departure from the swimming drills and plyometrics he did with his former coach, Francique. With seven sub-10s under his belt this season, it’s clear that in this “new Fred era,” he’s poised to challenge Bolt’s legendary mark.

 📈Trending News

Cinema Revisits Munich 1972's Untold Story

The 1972 Munich Olympics were meant to be remembered for Valeriy Borzov's incredible achievements. However, a horrific tragedy overshadowed the Games. Just as the ABC Sports team was preparing to cover boxing and volleyball—only 100 yards away—eight Palestinian gunmen attacked the Israeli athletes camp. This crisis posed a moral dilemma for journalists: should they cover the unfolding crime or focus on the events at hand? The film September 5, directed by Tim Fehlbaum, explores this pivotal day when Munich’s hostage crisis played out live on television.

Despite being dubbed "Black September," the month held significant achievements for track and field. Valeriy Borzov from the Soviet Union made history by becoming the first European athlete to win gold in both the 100m and 200m sprints at the same Olympics. In the 100m final, he narrowly edged out American sprinters Eddie Hart and Rey Robinson. Initially, Borzov had no intention of competing in the 200m, but after his coach urged him to participate, he went on to defeat America’s Larry Black, clocking a time of 20 seconds. To date, only two other sprinters—American Carl Lewis in 1984 and Jamaica's Usain Bolt in 2008 and 2012—have matched this remarkable feat.

Yet, the terrorist attack cast a long shadow over the 1972 Games. Borzov later recounted seeing one of the terrorists up close, mistaking him for a policeman at first, as the Soviet team’s quarters were barely 150 meters from the Israeli athletes. He described the chilling experience as feeling like watching a movie unfold in real life. Fast forward to 2024, and a film about that harrowing day is generating buzz for a potential Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards. Despite the renewed focus on this dark chapter, Borzov's historic achievements in track and field remain lesser-known in the grand narrative of the Munich Games.

📝 Highlighted Stories!

  1. Fred Kerley Opens Up About the Dark Reality of Track and Field- Full Story

  2. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Confessed After Being Done with Tokyo’s Woes- Full Story

  3. Fred Kerley Comments on Defeat to Noah Lyles at Paris Olympics - Full Story

  4. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s Coach Bobby Successfully Pulled Off an ‘Almost Illegal’ Trick to Save the Track Icon’s Career - Full Story

  5. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Recreates Olympics Look- Full Story

That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox soon with more interesting stories!

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