105-year-old Julia Hawkins sets world record in 100-meter dash
Julia Hawkins set a world record in the 100-meter dash Sunday, and established a new age category in the process. The 105-year-old Hawkins completed the race in just over a minute, becoming the first woman 105 or older to run the event, according to the National Senior Games Association.
Hawkins is no stranger to world records. She set the world record for 100-meter and 50-meter events for the 100-104 age range in 2017. Hawkins' 100-meter record in the 100-104 age range doesn't stand any longer. Diane Friedman, 100, beat that record in September.
With her world record in the 100-104 age range gone, Hawkins decided to establish a bar for women track and field runners 105 and older. She ran the 100-meter event at the 2021 Louisiana Senior Games, finishing with a 1:02:95 time.
Hawkins wasn't happy with that time, telling the National Senior Games Association she was hoping to finish under a minute.
“It was wonderful to see so many family members and friends. But I wanted to do it in less than a minute,” she said after the race to a throng of media and fans. A well-wisher pointed out that 102 is less than her age of 105. When asked if that made her feel better, Hawkins flatly replied, "No.”
With the accomplishment, Hawkins became the first woman track and field athlete to compete at the 105 and over mark. The two other track and field athletes to compete at that level — Stanisław Kowalski and Hidekichi Miyazaki — were both men.
Hawkins said she is thinking about competing in the 2022 National Senior Games, which will take place next May.
