Fueled by last season’s frustrations of missing out on the Masters 200m world record, 53-year-old sprinter Garth Robinson made history at the Indiana University Early Bird Indoor Meet on Saturday, shattering Masters Age Group records in both the 60m dash and 200m dash.

In the preliminary round of the 60m dash, Robinson blazed through the track, clocking an extraordinary time of 7.09. This not only secured an American age-group record but also set the stage for an exceptional day of competition. The seasoned sprinter continued his historic run in the 200m dash, posting an unofficial world age-group record time of 22.93.

If ratified, Robinson’s marks will replace Val Barnwell’s record of 7.13 set in 2009 and William Collins’ 200m mark set 22.99 set in March 2003.

In July, Robinson just missed out on Willie Gault’s 200m world outdoor record of 22.44 when he ran 22.59s into a heavy headwind of -1.6m/s at the USATF Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships in North Carolina. It was a common theme throughout the season.

Robinson, who revealed that he still has Gault’s record as a goal this season, cited the frustration of missing out on the record last season because of unfavourable environmental conditions, as a driving force behind his ambitions for the new season. "So I was a little frustrated saying I can't really get lucky to have the wind behind me. The one time I had the wind behind me, it was too much. That was when I ran a 10.88 (in July)," he shared, highlighting the challenges he faced in outdoor competitions last season.

"These are just personal goals. It's coming from when I used to run back in the day, and you know I've had a few accomplishments that I'm happy for, but I just wanted something more, something more personal, a world record."

Reflecting on his preparation, Robinson explained how he managed to maintain his fitness during the off season. “I was in good shape from the outdoors, I just transitioned with just taking it easy but mindful that I'm still in shape,” he said.

"I play in a volleyball league. Sometimes I mess around doing that and soccer sometimes. So like cross-training is something different from track and field, but I was still lifting, I was still running at the core part of my activities," Robinson added, shedding light on his comprehensive approach to training.

Robinson also got his weight down to something, he said, is more manageable. "Well, so going into Kentucky, which was the first year I did Masters, I was almost 200 lbs., and then when I competed last year, I think I was maybe 173. So I lost a lot of weight, tremendous a lot of weight in a short piece of time," he shared, highlighting the dedication to managing his weight effectively.

The former GC Foster College and Oral Roberts University alum explained that he also worked to tackle some of his shortcomings stating, "One of my weaknesses was my start because, you know, back in the day, I did the 400, and developed a habit of running 300 repeats in which the start doesn't have to be that emphasized."

He detailed the adjustments made to his training, incorporating explosive starts and shorter, more intense workouts.

As he looks ahead, Robinson remains focused on his journey, with an unrelenting determination to achieve his goals. "I plan to run more races. I have one this weekend at Principia College, just up the street from me," the Missouri resident he revealed, emphasizing his commitment to pushing the boundaries of Masters athletics.