Can you Still Sprint over 30 Years Old?

Last Updated on October 14, 2017 by Jimson Lee

Thanks to Ian Graham for the statistics.

I am tired of hearing the Justin Gatlin accusations because of his age at 33.  You can accuse him as much as you want, but please leave age out of it.

Let’s take a look at Kim Collins and Justin Gatlin’s 100m times:

• Kim Collins at Age 19/20 = 10.27
• Justin Gatlin at Age 19/20 = 10.05 
• Difference of 0.22 seconds

Now in their mid 30’s (Gatlin) to late 30’s (Collins), we see:

• Kim Collins = 9.96
• Justin Gatlin = 9.74
• Difference = 0.22 seconds

So call Gatlin what you want, but leave age out of it.  GOOD READ by Lee Ness: Justin Gatlin – Batman or Robbing?  Because we all know Kim Collins is Clean!

The Over 30 Club

The SUB 10 seconds @30+ club is made up of 16 men (out of over 600 men who have broken 10 seconds all time since FAT timing was introduced)

8 of those 16 who clocked sub 10 at age 30+ ran PB’s with those clockings… In fact, Surin, Lewis and Christie running their PB times in world championship finals.

1. Justin Gatlin 9.74PB age 33
2. Asafa Powell 9.81SB age 32 (PB 9.72)
3. Bruny Surin 9.84PB age 32
4. Carl Lewis 9.86PB age 30
5. Tyson Gay 9.87SB age 32 (PB 9.69)
6. Linford Christie 9.87PB age 33
7. Maurice Greene 9.87SB age 30 (9.79PB)
8. Darvis Patton 9.89PB age 31
9. Mike Rodgers 9.90SB age 30 (9.85PB)
10. Dennis Mitchell 9.91PB age 30
11. Patrick Johnson 9.93PB age 30
12. Donovan Bailey 9.93SB age 30 (9.84PB)
13. Frank Fredericks 9.93SB age 31 (9.86PB)
14. Kim Collins 9.96PB age 38
15. Jon Drummond 9.97SB age 34 (9.92PB)
16. Dwain Chambers 9.99SB age 32 (9.97PB)

NOTE: Frankie Fredericks also clocked 9.94 seconds age 34 in 2002, and 10.00 aged 35 in 2003

NOTE: Asafa Powell turns 35 on November 23, 2017.

Other Events

There’s lots of great masters WORLD RECORDS in numerous athletics events.

Chris Brown ran 44.54 this year for an M35 world record. Ranks him world number 12 in 2015, which is the strongest year ever in the men’s 400m event, with 10 men sub 44.50 seconds.

1:43.36 for 800m was run by Johnny Gray age 35

3 men over the age of 40 have ran sub 4 minutes for the mile.

Allen Johnson ran 12.96 for the 110mH age 35… 12.96 would rank him world number 2 in 2015.

Felix Sanchez ran 48.10 for the 400mH age 35 in 2013, which would rank him world number 2 in 2015

Two men have jumped 2.31m over the age of 35, one of them aged 38

Two men have jumped 8.50m aged 35… and 8.50m is the 2015 world leading mark. Lewis won Olympic long jump gold number 4 aged 35 with his 8.50m jump in Atlanta.

Jonathan Edwards jumped 17.92m age 35 to win world champs gold in 2001 in Edmonton, Canada.  Do YOU consider Jonathan Edwards a drug cheat because of his age?  Heavens, no!

A 35 year old man has thrown 22.67m in the shot put, while a 45 year old man has thrown 20.77m

Alenka threw the discus 71.56m age 35 and 70.28m age 40

Astapkovich threw the hammer 83.62m age 35 and 82.23m age 41

Jan Zelezny threw 92.80m age 35, and over 85m age 40

These throws performances indicate that throwers can throw big well into their mid 30’s, if their bodies hold up over time.

An M40 Kip Janvrin scored over 8616 pts in the Decathlon at the 2005 WMA in San Sebastien.

So there you have it.  Some impressive feats by men over 30 years old at the elite level.