Margaret River runner Michael Byrne makes a clean sweep at the Masters State Track and Field Championships

One Margaret River athlete has proven age is just a number, making a clean sweep of the Masters Athetics WA State Track and Field Championships. Michael Byrne walked away with seven gold medals last weekend, marking himself as a force to be reckoned with in the over-70s age division. Byrne claimed victory in all individual track events — the 60m, 100m, 200m and 400m sprints — as well as the mid to long-range 800m, 1500m and 5000m races. A humble bragger, Byrne said he preferred the competitive running scene. “Aw you know, it wasn’t a bad effort,” he said. “I like the track, it takes me back when I was young. You go harder when you’re competing against others.” Byrne shone on the world stage back in 2016, winning gold at the World Titles in Perth as part of the 4x400m relay team, at the ripe age of 64. He said athletics had been in his blood all his life. “I did it (athletics) as a kid in school ever since kindy,” he said. “But I stopped when I was about 21 and did other things and came back to it for the world titles when I was 64 and haven’t looked back since.” A long-time member of the Bunbury and Districts Athletics Club, the runner trains at the track once a week but keeps active every day. “I run at the local park, then train another day of the week at the golf course or the oval in town, then at the club on Tuesday, then any off days I’m off swimming,” he said. “It keeps me busy, keeps me on my toes.” Looking ahead, he hopes to continue to represent the South West next month at the Masters Games. “We’ve got the Australian titles next month, then Australian Masters Games end of April up in Perth, hoping to represent Margaret River again there because there’s not too many of us down here.”