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Joetta Clark Diggs (left), running a competitive USATF race for the first time in 25 years, edges Sue McDonald (middle) and Joy Upshaw in the 200-meter dash (W60) at the USA Track & Field Masters Indoor Championships here last Sunday. Diggs' 28.62 is a new American record for the age group. Photo by Rob Jerome.
By Ray Glier
GAINESVILLE, Fla.___It was one of the most serendipitous moments in sports you will ever see.
Joetta Clark Diggs, 62, a four-time Olympian, was running her first race final in 25 years, the 200-meter dash finals (W60) at the USA Track & Field Masters Indoor Championships here last Sunday. In the stands was her daughter, Talitha Diggs, 22, part of a world record relay team (4x400) and multi-time national champion at the nearby University of Florida.
“My daughter had never seen me run,” Joetta said. “I was happy to come and run and check this off my list. I wanted to make my daughter and family proud.”
She did both.
Joetta, who was cheered on by an excited following led by her daughter, won the 200-meter race for women (W60) in 28.62 seconds, an American Masters record. She edged silver medalist Sue McDonald (28.78) and bronze medalist Joy Upshaw (28.87). All three broke the previous American record of 28.88 held by India Bridgette.
Diggs’ fans erupted in shouts of “Momma Jo” in a tumultuous scene as they rushed toward the fence at the finish line. What was remarkable is that Diggs was a middle distance champion in her heyday, not a sprint champion.
“I was just trying to run whatever,” Joetta said. “I hadn't really been training for it, so I was just trying to see if I could do it and be ready for the worlds. So now that I did that, I will go back and really start training.”
The World Masters Athletes championships are back here March 23-30.
Does this mean Diggs will be a fixture in Masters track after WMA?
“I don't know about that, I just wanted to check this off my list so my daughter could see me run” Joetta said. “I don't know what the future holds.”
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