While most track and field athletes retire in their prime, Julia Hawkins was just getting started when she hit triple digits. Picture this: a retired school teacher who took up competitive cycling in her 70s yet found her fame as a runner. That was Julia Hawkins, lovingly known as “Hurricane.” She started her running journey after turning 100, once saying she “thought it’d be neat to run at 100 and do the 100-yard dash.”

Julia Hawkins started the competitive running scene at 100, thanks to her children’s encouragement to join the Louisiana Senior Games. “When your kids want you to do something, you do it,” she told The Advocate in 2017. At 101, she began shattering world records in the 100-meter dash, winning the USA Track and Field Outdoors Masters Championships in July 2017 with a time of 40.12 seconds. After crossing the finish line, she playfully remarked, “I missed my nap for this,” showcasing her delightful spirit.

At 75, Julia took up competitive cycling, snagging a bronze at nationals. Her life story, filled with resilience and heart, is captured in her self-published memoir, It’s Been Wondrous!, which she spent over 30 years handwriting. The book, published in 2016, covers her incredible first 100 years—and she kept on making history even after that. Now, eight years later, after continuing to add to her remarkable story, Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins peacefully passed away on Tuesday in Baton Rouge at 108. Her radiant spirit will always inspire us.

USA Track and Field shared the sad news on X, stating, “The track and field community has lost a legend with the passing of 108-year-old Julia Hawkins. Hawkins, known on the track as ‘Hurricane,’ took up track and field at the age of 100 and quickly became a world record holder. She will be greatly missed.” Her spirit and determination will continue to inspire generations to come.

Born as Julia Welles on Feb. 10, 1916, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and after she was only a few months old, her family left Wisconsin and sailed from Chicago to Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Soon after, the family began to run a summer resort. Julia later studied education at Louisiana State University, where she had a fateful encounter. On her first day as a freshman, at an Episcopal Church party, she met her soulmate, Murray Hawkins.

After the Pearl Harbor attack, Murray joined the Navy and stayed in Hawaii, but that didn’t stop them from tying the knot—by telephone! Julia, ever determined, biked seven miles each day to teach school in Ponchatoula. After the war, Murray became a professor and head of LSU’s petroleum engineering department, while Julia focused on raising their four children.

They built a home in University Acres, where she lived until moving to St. James Place in Baton Rouge. The incredible Hawkins, back in 2021, when she was 105, sprinted 100 meters in a record-breaking time of 1:02.95 at the Louisiana Senior Games, captivating the cheers of her loving friends and family.

With that remarkable achievement, she made history as the first female track and field athlete and the first American to set a world record in the newly established age category of 105 and older, according to the National Senior Games. Her legacy of speed and spirit will forever light up the track and be an inspiration for the LSU Tigers! Ken Stone, a journalist and a slow sprinter, shared his heartfelt tribute in the comments, saying, “An amazing life. An amazing athlete. RIP, Hurricane. @USAMastersTrack.” And this is just the tip of the iceberg of the love she has received!

A wave of emotions in the Track and field world evoked after “Hurricane” Julia Hawkins’ passing

Julia Hawkins was far more than just a runner who sparked inspiration in countless hearts after she began racing at the remarkable age of 100. She aimed to leave an even greater mark before her passing. In a heartfelt decision, she chose to donate her body to scientists exploring the secrets of longevity. The track and field community quickly rallied to honor her extraordinary gesture. Journalist and author Erin Strout beautifully captured the moment, saying, “What a life. Julia Hawkins has been such an inspiration to so many people. And of course her legacy lives on—she donated her body to scientists studying longevity.”

Another user commented, “😢 that generation is something else,” and they couldn’t have been more right! Julia Hawkins often expressed deep gratitude for her ability to stay active in her golden years, always hoping her journey would inspire others. “I hope I’m inspiring them to be healthy and to realize you can still be doing this at this kind of an age. I’ve been here longer than I thought I’d be already,” she once said.

Julia never stopped moving—whether it was cycling, tending to her garden, or, of course, running. Though she eventually stopped competing in cycling, when she became the oldest participant at every event, she then turned her focus to track, leaving an indelible mark on the sport and a legacy of inspiration. Julia Hawkins, an LSU alumna from the class of 1938, first crossed paths with her future husband during her freshman year.

Over the years, she became a beloved figure, not just for her accomplishments but for the way she embraced life’s challenges with grace and determination. LSU’s official X page expressed deep sorrow at her passing, stating, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of LSU alumna Julia Hawkins… Known as ‘Hurricane,’ she served as an inspiration to many.”

They remembered her for her “positive and competitive spirit,” emphasizing that she never let age hold her back from living life to its fullest. Even at 108, Julia’s legacy continues to inspire all who dream big, regardless of age.