101-year-old LSU alumna and Baton Rouge runner earns world record
Hawkins crossing the finish line of the 100-meter dash at the National Senior Games.Photo Credit: Brit Huckabay, TheAdvocate.comJulia Hawkins graduated from LSU with a degree in teaching in 1938. She has been an avid bicyclist for years. She became a runner at the age of 100.
At this year's National Senior Games in Birmingham, Al., she set a world record of 39.62 seconds for women 100 and older in the 100-yard dash.
The National Senior Games began in 1987 as a venue for older competitive athletes. This year, more than 10,500 athletes over the age of 50 will compete in 800 events.
Hawkins received her degree in teaching from the former College of Education, which was realigned into the College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) in 2012. The mission of the CHSE is to advance cognitive, social, emotional, communicative and physical development across the lifespan. Now retired, Hawkins used her teaching degree to impact students. Now she exemplifies the School of Kinesiology's values in physical activity across the lifespan.