Jerry Smartt: 50+ years of competing and winning.

[lovetorun]

My friend Jerry Smartt (1956 Olympic alternate in 10,000m) has been all over the USA and world for the past 50+ years as a competitive distance runner. He recently competed in a masters meet in St. Louis and won the 800, 1500 and 5,000m. He turns 78 in September.Has anyone else in USA track history been competitively viable for as long?

[jhc68]

Wow, lovetorun! Jerry Smartt is still alive and running?!? That's wonderful.

[TrackCEO]

Has anyone else in USA track history been competitively viable for as long?

Leland McPhie has been going for 70-plus years, with a break or two:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib ... tness.html



K E N

[lovetorun]

TrackCEO...thanks for the great article on McPhie...throughly enjoyed reading it. I'm also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Maybe he will inspire Jerry Smartt to keep going for another 20 years!

[lovetorun]

Just an update...got a reply from Jerry S. when I told him about this thread...he said it has been 61 years now...he's in his 62nd year as a competitive distance runner. Has any other distance runner competed longer?

[TrackCEO]

Has any other distance runner competed longer?

Potentially, many have run over 70 or even 80 years.

One potential record holder is Herb Kirk, who died at 106 but ran road races as late as 101:

http://www.geocities.com/ww1fighters/fe ... rbkirk.htm

K E N