KIAMA DOWNS, Australia — Former Brunswick High School and University of Maine track and field star Arnie Delaite recently won six gold medals at the Australian Masters Athletic Championships in Perth.
Delaite, 75, was a champion college athlete at UMO, specializing in the discus, javelin and shot put. Recently, his shot put record at the university was broken, having stood for more than half a century.
After a 53-year break, Delaite entered a winter throws event at Kerryn McCann Field in Wollongong in 2017 to see if he still had what it took to compete. His efforts at the meet inspired him to celebrate turning 75 this year by entering the 2018 Australian Masters Athletics Championships in Perth.
After weeks of training and preparation, he dominated the 75-79 age category, winning the pentathlon (five throwing events over three hours), the discus, javelin, shot put, hammer and heavy hammer.
“It seems that after 53 years away from the sport, there were still a few good throws left,” Delaite said. “A little bit of training and some luck came together for a great week.”
After winning two gold medals on the first day of the competition (hammer throw and shot put), Delaite gained confidence heading into his next events.
“All events went well except for the javelin,” Delaite said. “Trying too hard the previous day I threw my shoulder out.”
However, Delaite had more than enough points in the overall competition to win gold.
Competing again in a sport he enjoyed when younger days brings joy to Delaite, especially competing with other competitors.
“It was great fun competing in a sport that I enjoyed so much in my younger days,” Delaite said. “Most (of the other competitors) have been competing for years and had to know some of the other competitors from a long time.”
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