In the sport of athletics, centenarian competitors were recorded in the early 20th century, and have become increasingly common in the 21st century. This has occurred during a period of population ageing and increased longevity in wealthy countries, alongside a corresponding development of masters track and field competitions, such as the Senior Olympics and the World Masters Athletics Championships.^[1]

Stanisław Kowalski and Hidekichi Miyazaki at age 105 are two of the oldest centenarian masters track and field athletes. Orville Rogers (age 100) stated, “I love the thrill of preparation and training,” he told Runner’s World. “When I compete, I am not just running against the people out on the track at that moment, I am running against everyone who has run the event before me. That is gratifying to me.”^[2]

• 6 Feb 1995 Margaret White (age 100) was featured on Sports Illustrated (SI) that she competed at the Jan 29, 1995 Sooner State Games (indoor) in the shot put.^[122][123]
• 21 Feb 1995 Margaret White was featured on The Jay Leno Show "as being the oldest shot-put person". She was also on The Phil Donahue Show.^[118][124]
• In 1998, Ben Levinson appeared on The Howie Mandel Show, CBS 48 Hours, and The Jay Leno Show after competing in the shot put at age 103.^[80][81]
• Everett Hosack (100) competed at the Penn Relays in 2002. Philadelphia Inquirer stated "... the oldest ever to run at the carnival [Penn Relay] ..." and "The crowd of 50,827 took to Hosack right away. He received a standing ovation ..."^[125] Later in 2002 Everett was a guest on The Jay Leno Show, "demonstrating his shot-putting prowess".^[126]
• In 2003, Waldo McBurney ran the 100 meter at the World Masters Athletic Championship in San Jose, Puerto Rico. The paper reports, "... he competes to show people you can still perform at an old age".^[90] In 2004 the Hayes Daily News reported that he published a book "My First 100 Years: A Look Back from the Finish Line".^[127]
• Santa Barbara Round Table reports John Whittemore, "Holds numerous Track & Field Records over 75-year-old Class".^[128] Book written by Art Linkletter states, "... Whittemore has been competing in track and field - and setting records since his boyhood ... was working out with weights daily and still thinking about new records".^[101]
• In 2015 Sports Illustrated (SI) reported, "100-year-old Frederick Winter of Holland, Mich., became the oldest man in National Senior Games history to complete the 100-meter dash".^[129]
• Ida Keeling appeared on an ESPN story, writer states "won't be stopping anytime soon".^[130]
• At the 2018 Masters National Indoor Track and Field Championship Orville Rogers (age 100) and Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins set 60 meter dash world records. Runner's World coverage stated, "Two Centenarians Steal the Show at USATF Masters Indoor Championships".^[131]
• June 2019 Express & Star news (out of Wolverhampton, England) reports, "At 103, Julia Hurricane Hawkins has cemented her title as the oldest woman to compete on an American track after finishing the 50- and 100 meter dashes at the National Senior Games in New Mexico".^[132]
• In 2020 BBC reports a story about the "Centenarian Olympics" featuring Julia "Hurricane" Hawkins and the benefits of continuing sports and other activities.^[133]