Ida Keeling, 95-Year-Old Woman Sets Sprinting Record (VIDEO)

Ida Keeling is the world's fastest nonagenarian.

The 95-year-old Bronx native set a world record at a track meet in northern Manhattan last week, running 60 meters in 29.86 seconds, according to ABC News. She's the oldest woman to do so.

At 4-foot-6 and 83 lbs Keeling says she has always been the oldest person at her meets. That might be because she didn't even take up running until she was 67.

From ABC News:

Active and healthy and living alone in her Bronx, N.Y., apartment, she could pass for 75. She says she feels even younger.

"Like a puppy," she declares. "I feel younger now than when I was in my 30s and 40s and had all those problems. Then I was aged!"

Keeling's husband died of a heart attack at the age of 42, and both of her sons were killed in drug-related killings, according to ABC. Her daughter, Shelley, a lawyer, real estate investor, and high school track coach convinced her mother to take up running at 67.

Since then, Keeling has set record after record, becoming one of the world's oldest sprinting legends. According to ABC, she set the record for the world's fastest sprint in the 90-and-over age category last year.

For ABC's piece on the elderly sprinter, check out the video below.

WATCH:

Comments

[WarriorLemming]

07:19 AM on 02/26/2011

She would own me in a sprint.....s'cuse me while I walk across the room to get my M&M's.

[EcologyDreams]

12:45 AM on 02/26/2011

Now this, this is a role model.

[MMJones]

05:58 PM on 02/25/2011

I LOVE this woman and aspire to have her spunk! Thankfully, I found something I loved doing in my late 20s and I've run for more than 30 years. I know how fortunate I've been to have exercise a part of my life. There are so many people my senior age who could benefit from her story of it's never too late to start!

[JazzoRenee]

01:04 PM on 02/25/2011

Ida Keeling, 95-Year-Old Woman Sets Sprinting Record, This lady is the absolute best. We all should be inspired

[WarriorLemming]

07:20 AM on 02/26/2011

I think she's incredible--being inspired is a little harder though. ;)

[JazzoRenee]

01:00 PM on 02/25/2011

This is the best lady ever!

[Topps]

10:44 AM on 02/25/2011

Amazing and encouraging.

[Billy Jumper]

03:34 AM on 02/25/2011

I think that there is a message in here somewhere.

[CintiBlue]

12:19 PM on 02/26/2011

I'm going to look for my inner puppy, like Ida. Best self-description I've heard.

Come on folks, between Ida Keeling and the late Jack La Lanne the way is clear.

[Talking The Wolf]

04:57 PM on 02/24/2011

Terrific! What a great example to show that you're never too old to take charge of and improve your health habits. She's my new role model.

[AgingLady]

10:58 AM on 02/24/2011

Congratulations. You go!!! You are an inspiration and I accept the challenge. Will do my walk today. Have found it easy to not do that walk. You remind me of how wonderful it is to get out and use my body. Smiles to you.

[mzrecycle]

09:06 AM on 02/24/2011

Ida, you are another of my role models. When I turned 50, I started noticing and collecting role models of all sorts of people who lived active, healthy lifestyles well into their 80's, 90's and past 100. I come from a line of women who are long lived and I became intent and making sure those years are also healthy. I'd always been active, but started to be serious about determining what this body needs to stay in good function.
Yoga has been a mainstay for me since '71, as well as biking. I no longer ride on the street, just on bike trails. I now life in an area with a plethora of hiking trails. We bought the house we're in because it's a 5 min. walk to a hiking trail over 400 mi. long. Since marrying my husband who loves boating, I've started canoeing. During the summer, gardening is a daily activity. Not only do I get a bounty of fresh organically grown veggies, but I find that extra 5 lbs. that creeps on during the winter disappears. Gardening is such a great exercise for me, just wish it would work my thighs...
I hope that my efforts result in remaining strong and active at 95, just like Ida.

[kansasbashkir]

08:45 AM on 02/24/2011

Inspiring! Anything is possible!

[themainpoint]

07:54 AM on 02/24/2011

Incredible!

[SoutheastBeast]

11:17 PM on 02/23/2011

Wow.

[OneTop]

08:43 PM on 02/23/2011

What an inspiration. :-)

Who ever said clean living and exercise are over-rated ......

[linton]

08:27 PM on 02/23/2011

Keep it up, there is still hope for some of us.