Naples woman, 60, sets 60-meter event sprinting world record

Johnnie Reid from Naples is sprinting into the record books after setting the 60-meter event world record at the USA Track and Field Masters Championship.

But, to add a little more to the glory, she set the record at 60 years old.

A competitor at heart, Reid knows the importance of starting fast. But she said in high school, that wasn’t the case. So she did all she could to master that for the past 10 years.

“They never taught us how to come out of the blocks how to explode how to drive. And now with technology with YouTube and everything I got my families helping me out. Then I go on YouTube, and that’s the only reason I was able to execute everything the way I did,” Reid said.

Those lessons and support paid off in a historic way at the USATF Masters Championship in Louisville in March when Reid dashed 60 meters in 8.49 seconds, breaking the world record at the time. (A French runner recorded a faster time in Poland a few weeks later.)

“I’m still on this wow right now. I’m on this amazing high and I still have to pinch myself,” Reid said.

Reid takes her training seriously and that helped her put her name in history.

“I’ve never ran so relaxed and smooth. All the mechanics came together all at once. That was my first time ever being so relaxed. and it felt amazing,” Reid said.

Without any ideas to slow down, Reid hopes her story can inspire others to reach their goals.

“If I can do it, you can. Just put the work in and don’t stop,” Reid said.

Reid’s drive was inspired by her son Fermon who played defensive line at Stetson. Reid will wait for the USATF to officially ratify her record.

She’s currently training to compete in the senior games in Alabama next month.