Entertainment Africa
101-year-old Julia ‘Hurricane’ Hawkins is doing a lot better than any of us ever could at her age.
On Saturday, Julia took to the track at the USA Track And Field Outdoors Masters Championships and shaved six seconds off the current certified world record in the age group.
Running in the ‘women aged 100 or over’ category, The Hurricane ran the 100m in 40.12 seconds.
However, she’s done it quicker than that, and is waiting for confirmation to become the official world-record holder. This will come in December.
Earlier in July, at the National Senior Games in Birmingham, Alabama, Julia ran the distance in 39.62 seconds.
Hawkins, who’s big into her running, cycling and gardening, admitted in her interview after the race that she had originally made other plans before racing.
“[I] missed my nap for this,” she told the Washington Post.
She only took up running last year after making the century landmark age. “I’m always outside and the phone always rings,” she said. “I come running in [so that] is how I knew I could run.” Hawkins believes she can go even faster, too.
Hawkins was born in Wisconsin in 1916 and has always fancied herself as an ‘independent’ person – despite having four children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
“Having a momma that can do this pleases them, and it pleases me to please them,” she added.
Fair play, Julia, fair play. I’ve just timed myself and I couldn’t make it round the block in 40 seconds.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram
