Liz Alexander (52) from South Africa won gold in the 800m for Women 50

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2ccSYQu8N0

Liz Alexander is one of those ‘wonder’ athletes who was not very competitive in athletics when she was younger.   She enjoyed sport in the form of road running, cycling, etc.   In 2001/2 she was introduced to Masters Athletics in her home province of KZN and started competing in the sprints, 400m and 800m.   Her best 800m time in the 45-49 age group was 2.26,6 in 2002.   It was only during the 2004/5 season that she started concentrating on the 800m and with hard work and dedication, continued to improve in her event.

In 2005 she participated in the World Masters Championships in San Sebastian, Spain where she took the silver medal in one of the strongest 800m fields in the W.50 age group with an outstanding time of 2:21,84, which was also a national record.    Two years later in Riccione, Italy she went on to win the gold in the same age group with a time of 2.27,46 with a fantastic finish over the last 50m.

She has 'retired' from masters athletics and now enjoys mountain biking where she has won several races in her age category.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2ccSYQu8N0

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