Norma Minkowitz A'58, An artist and a world-class runner:

"A World-Class Artist Is Now A World-Class Runner

By Ray Glier

Her father was a concert pianist. Her mother a singer. Norma Minkowitz doesn’t seem to have the latent athleticism that would lead to a world-record in the 400.

Maybe not, but she has a virtue much more vital.

It is what scientists label “internal locus of control”, which is a personal orthodoxy that outcomes are within your control and determined by your hard work, or decisions. It is a brazen belief that “I got this”, which is how Norma ignored the soreness of a Baker’s Knee and the anxiety of her first race on a high-banked indoor track and set that world record on February 25 in Staten Island, N.Y.

Minkowitz, a nationally-known artist whose works in fiber art are scattered in more than 30 museums, went 1:50.99 to break the W85 indoor mark set by Italy’s Emma Mazzenga in 2019 (1:51.89).

Her 800 that same day—4:33.38—is the best in the world indoors for 2023 (W85). And, just to be clear, there are plenty of women over 80 still running around the world.

Norma turned 85 last October and the races in the USATF New York Open & Masters Championships were her first-ever as a dues-paying member of USA Track & Field. She had never competed indoors."

To read the full article about Norma Minkowitz' amazing athletic achievements, please click here.