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Christensen: Go for the 'Gault'

By Todd Christensen
June 7, 2011

A few weeks back, I was perusing the website devoted to Masters Track and Field.  This is the competition that features athletes 40 and over in the various and sundry track and field events sponsored by the same body that puts together the regular meets throughout the world (USATF) utilizing many of the same officials.  

Of course, when your motto is "older, lower, slower," then you know that there are some obvious limitations.  Having had a modicum of success in some of these meets through the years, I opted to check and see some of the marks and if Grandpa Christensen could still cut the mustard.

Over the course of my browsing, I came across a feature article on Willie Gault.  Many remember him as the Chicago Bears wide receiver, but he was a stellar trackman at Tennessee as well.  In fact, he had made the Olympic team back in 1980 when there was a boycott.  Not being able to participate, he continued to hone his wares, and in 1983 received a bronze medal in the 110-meter hurdles in the inaugural World Championships in Helsinki.  He was also a member of the gold-medal winning 4x100 meter relay team that set a world record.
 
He was now 50 years of age now, but evidently Father Time hasn’t made the same visit to his house that he does to the rest of us.  The picture of him made him look about 30 and his marks in the sprints were superb.  He had just set global standards in both the 100 and the 200-meter for those over 50.  In addition, he had also set standards for those 45 and above in the same dashes as well as the hurdles.  He is the oldest man ever to run the 200-meter in under 22 seconds (21.80) at age 48.  With the Masters World Track and Field Championships set for Sacramento next month, he is likely to set more records there, even in the hurdles if he so chooses.

The thought occurred to me, "Why doesn't he try to go back to the NFL?"  While there are dozens of players that can run a 4.3 40, the reality is that very few can maintain their speed past that mark.  In fact, I would wager that there are fewer than a dozen NFL players that could match his 10.72 in the 100-meter.  During Gault's 11-year career in the NFL, he averaged 20 yards per catch and was awfully close to being the MVP for Super Bowl XX with his 129 yards receiving.  Unlike Herschel Walker, who has made overtures to an NFL return, Gault would not have to take the punishment of so many collisions; just the threat of his blinding speed would be of value to any offense that harps upon their ability to stretch the field.

George Blanda was 48 years of age when he hung up his cleats in the mid-70s.  Isn't it time for someone with a half-century of life under his belt to put on the pads?  

The AARP would be thrilled!  Willie Gault is the ideal candidate. 
See all of Todd Christensen's blog entries HERE.