Ida Keeling, 100 years old, sets world record at Penn Relays (video)

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Ida Keeling electrified the Penn Relays crowd with her 100-meter dash in 1 minute, 17.33 seconds on Saturday afternoon.

Keeling set a world record for fastest 100m by a woman 100 years and older. There is no data on USA Track and Field and masters athletics websites for a previous record holder.

“I’ll be 101 in a couple of weeks,” Keeling pointed out to NBC Sports’ Carolyn Manno after the race, a mixed-gender event for athletes 80 and older. “I’ve never seen nothing like this crowd. Maybe that’s what the excitement was.”

Keeling’s advice?

“Love yourself, do what you have to do and what you want to do,” she said. “Eat for nutrition, not for taste. And exercise at least once a day.”

More on Keeling is here.

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Israel, judo federation hail letter from Iran; Tehran silent

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A letter from Iran over judo rules is being heralded by Israel and the International Judo Federation as a sign the Islamic Republic will allow its athletes to compete against Israelis.

However, Iranian media outlets on Sunday called the response “baseless” and “strange.” Iran’s local judo federation did not immediate answer calls for comment.

Iranian judoka, like other athletes, routinely forfeit matches with Israelis as Iran does not recognize Israel as a country.

The International Judo Federation posted the letter from Iran on Saturday night, which said Iran would “fully respect the Olympic Charter and its nondiscrimination principle,” without elaborating.

Moshe Ponte, the head of the Israeli Judo Association, told The Associated Press he welcomed “this courageous and correct decision” by the International Judo Federation to publish the letter.

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Noah Lyles, U.S. take 4x100m silver at World Relays

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Noah Lyles anchored the U.S. 4x100m to silver on an upset-filled final day of the IAAF World Relays in Yokohama, Japan, on Sunday.

Lyles, the early 2020 Olympic 200m favorite, was given the baton in around fifth place after a poor previous exchange from Justin Gatlin to Isiah Young. He passed France, China and Great Britain but could not catch Brazil, coming up .02 short.

The Americans were also beaten in the men’s and women’s 4x400m and the women’s 4x200m.

U.S. champion Aleia Hobbs anchored the women’s 4x100m, holding off Jamaican Jonielle Smith, 43.27 to 43.29. The event lacked Olympic and world champions Tori Bowie, Elaine Thompson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

IAAF World Relays: Full Results

Poland upset the U.S. women in the 4x400m as Courtney Okolo could not make up all of an eight tenths deficit on anchor, coming up .16 short. The Americans were without Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix, working her way back from childbirth, and world champion Phyllis Francis.

Trinidad and Tobago overtook the U.S. on anchor in the men’s 4x400m, edging to the win by .03 before the U.S. was disqualified for a lane violation.

The U.S. did take the mixed-gender 4x400m, which makes its Olympic debut in Tokyo.

The track and field season continues with the Diamond League stopping in Shanghai on Saturday.

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