- April 28, 2024
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So, there’s a man in Ormond, Buzz Porter, 80, who’s three times my age and is quickly making me become envious of his drive. Most days I battle the thought of walking and running a collective four miles, while he trains almost every day to complete decathlons and like events.
Back in his high school days at Bardstown (Kentucky), Porter saw a track runner break the mile school record. Believing he was just as fast, he ran the next day and broke that kid’s record by 16 seconds. That gave birth to an illustrious that has spanned for six decades.
Porter has two rooms dedicated to his many medals, ribbons, trophies and plaques, and, with every subsequent year, he has to make room for new ones.
His most recent conquering came at the Polk County Senior Games, where he participated in 12 events, winning seven All-American awards and breaking the triple jump meet record. He won awards for the 100- and 200- meter races, the high jump, triple jump, shot put, discus and javelin. His new meet record was in the triple jump.
Porter currently holds four hurdles world records for certain age groups, including the 110-meters with 16.9 seconds and the 400-meter hurdles with 61.2, both after age 45. To put those time in perspective, the national high school record 110-meter hurdles is 13.08 seconds, and 400 meter hurdles 49.38.
In worldwide decathlon competition, Porter ranks in the Top 10 in the nation and world in his divisions.
“Everybody in town says, ‘Buzz, I don’t know anybody your age who can run 400 meters in 60 seconds, much less with 10 hurdles,’” Porter laughed.
His good friend, whom he calls his right arm, Betty Bullington, helps him train and attends all of his competitions. Porter trains almost daily in Bicentennial Park near Ormond-By-The-Sea.
He reminds me of the biblical character Caleb, who considered himself just as fervent and energized at 85 as he was at 40. Porter hopes to inspire others to take health a lot more seriously, and I can say that he’s definitely inspired me.
