Heather Lee Attempts W95 1500m World Record

There's not too many people who pick up an entirely new hobby in their late 70's. There's even fewer who then become the best in the world (and history) at that hobby.

The timeless Heather Lee will line up in this weekend's Treloar Shield Women's 1500m with the goal of setting a new World Record for the Women's 95 years age group - an extraordinary feat that, quite literally, has never been achieved before. If she does successfully finish the event, it will be her seventh world record acheivement of her career, with several already set in the Women's 85 & Women's 90 years masters' age groups.

How does she do it?

"A good diet, a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise, a rich social life and you have the basic recipe to nurture your body, mind and spirit", Heather states on her website.

Having started walking therapeutically after her husband Len passed, Heather was in her late seventies when she began participating in and getting first and second places in her age group in a series of fun runs, among others the City2Surf, Mothers Day Classic and Sydney Running Festival. It rapidly became obvious that she was a naturally fast walker - although just how fast was difficult to gauge as there were never many competitors in the same age group.

An inspiration to the NSW, Australian and indeed the World Masters Associations, Jill Taylor (President, NSW Masters Athletics Association) states:

"Heather is our NSW Masters poster girl for never letting an age number stop you doing what you love – a life lesson for the young and old alike. She is an inspiration to all of us masters aged athletes in how she keeps her mind sharp and her great physical shape in her 90’s, and we are all so proud of her, and of her achievements on the world athletics stage. I’m personally looking forward to seeing her knock over the W100 records in a few years’ time!"
 

Above: Heather participating in the Queen's Baton Relay as part of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. She also received a Medal of the Order of Australia, General Division in 2014, for her "service to athletics through masters race walking, and to the community." (Gold Coast 2018 / Colin McPherson)

Beyond the track, Heather has helped raised more than $70,000 for the NSW Cancer Council in team and individual charitable pursuits, which have also included walking for an incredible 24 hours as part of the Relay for Life (covering up to 85 kilometres at over 90 years of age).

Whilst this weekend may feature the NSW 10,000m Championships, the return of some of our best and brighest junior track & field stars, and an exciting rebirth of the Treloar Shield, there's one other storyline that everyone must follow. 

Athletics NSW will provide an update on Heather's result as soon as possible after she completes her event via our Facebook & Instagram pages.

Written by James Constantine - 7th October, 2022.
With thanks to Jill Taylor / NSW Masters Association, and references taken from Heather Lee's own Wix webpage.
Cover photo: Justin Sanson / Daily Telegraph