Proving it is never too late, Julia Hawkins has earned the title of the oldest woman to compete on an American track. At 103 years of age, Hawkins set a Games record for the women’s 100-plus division by running 21.06 in the 50-meter event. She took gold in both the 50-meter and 100-meter races.

Almost 14,000 competitors participated in the 2019 National Senior Games presented by Humana held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 14 – 25, 2019.

Dubbed “Hurricane” Hawkins, perhaps because she is from Louisiana where hurricanes are a well-known occurrence, she would prefer being called “flower lady,” she said. She lives independently in her own home on an acre of land. “I have 50 kinds of trees and I am working on them all of the time.”

Hawkins built her leg strength from a lifelong habit of cycling. She previously competed in four other Senior Games in the cycling divisions at the Senior Games and won gold medals in many of them.

At age 100, she made the shift to running when the shifting gears became too hard and after a spill. She decided to run the 100-meter dash to coincide with turning 100. She says she continues to run because of what it demonstrates to the country.

“I’ve been told that I’m an inspiration to a lot of people and that makes me feel good,” she continues. “I’m helping, in a way, in the health of our country.”

Attributing the importance of family to good health, Hawkins has four children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was married for 70 years to Murray Hawkins. Her husband passed away in 2013 at age 95.

A 1938 graduate of Louisiana State University, Hawkins is a retired school teacher. She was the oldest female competitor at the Games.

“I feel good about it, I didn’t get a good start, but I did pretty well,” she said.

“I hope I’m inspiring people to be healthy and to realize that you can still be doing it at this kind of an age if you keep yourself busy and active. Every day at 103 is a miracle”