Watch This 99-Year-Old Runner Edge Out His 92-Year-Old Rival in This Amazing Nonagenarian Race

Joe DePaoloMar 2nd, 2017, 9:59 am
 

This may be one of the most remarkable runnings of the 60-meter dash ever.

This past weekend at the U.S.A. Track and Field Masters Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, 99-year-old Orville Rogers squared off against 92-year-old Dixon Hemphill in a 60-meter sprint showdown.

With the crowd cheering the nonagenarians on, Hemphill got off the blocks faster and appeared on his way to a victory. But Rogers turned on the jets in the final few meters and began to close ground as they hit the finish line.

In real time, it’s difficult to tell who finished first. But the 99-year-old Rogers was credited with the win, completing the distance in 18 seconds flat. Hemphill ran the 60 meters in 18.05 seconds.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Hemphill tipped his hat to Rogers on the victory.

“I’m glad he won the race this time,” Hemphill said. “Because had I won it, it would’ve been not as much of a deal. That’s news, because he’s got seven years on me. He’s amazing.”

But Hemphill, who actually ran five different races during the meet in Albuquerque, is not giving up. He’s already focused on a rematch that’s scheduled to take place between the two World War II veterans this July in Baton Rouge.

Watch above, via U.S. Track and Field.

[featured image via screengrab]

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Joe DePaolo - Senior Editor

Joe DePaolo is a Senior Editor at Mediaite. Email him here: joed@mediaite.com Follow him on Twitter: @joe_depaolo