82-Year-Old Beats the Odds (and the Rain) With Lightning Finish

Domenic Stellato, an 82-year-old sprinter from Pennsylvania, just reminded the world that age is no excuse to slow down.

Battling heavy rain and fierce competition, Stellato surged to victory in the men’s 80+ Masters 100-meter dash at the legendary Penn Relays.

The final stretch was nothing short of thrilling. As the rain poured down, three frontrunners pushed neck and neck toward the finish line, turning the crowd’s cheers into a roar.

Stellato, a proud member of the Philadelphia Masters Track & Field Association, and possibly the University of Toronto track club as well, proved unstoppable as he clocked in at a blistering 16.02 seconds (-1.0).

The Penn Relays, hosted annually at Franklin Field by the University of Pennsylvania since 1895, is the oldest and largest track meet in the United States.

Over five days, more than 15,000 athletes from across North America and the Caribbean especially from Jamaica descend on Philadelphia to compete in over 400 races.

And yet, year after year, one event steals the spotlight: the 100-meter sprint for men aged 80 and over, held Saturday afternoon.

Despite a less-than-ideal start, Stellato found his rhythm around the 20-meter mark. He powered ahead alongside two fierce contenders, creating a dramatic showdown as they approached the finish line. In the final steps, just as it seemed someone might edge him out, Stellato dug deep and unleashed one final kick.

He broke the tape first, securing a memorable win in brutal weather conditions.

All eight racers in the Masters division deserve recognition for braving the elements and competing at such a high level but Stellato’s grit and speed stole the show.