Two veteran Newmarket Huskies runners were part of a local contingent competing in the 2024 World Masters Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden this month.
Mirco Graenert, 55, and Danny Grossi, 53, were representing Canada at the games, racing together in the men’s aged 50 plus 4x400-metre relay, as well as in a number of other events across the two weeks of competition.
The masters championship sees thousands of competitors compete in various track and field events, split into age groups of five-year increments, starting from 35 years old with categories going up to ages 85 plus.
Graenert and Grossi, both Aurora residents, returned to running by joining the Newmarket Huskies Track Club — the club had more than half a dozen members competing in the games.
Graenert ran in high school, while Grossi ran nationally before hanging up his spikes at 23. The latter only got back into running around a year ago with the Newmarket Huskies.
“As I started training with this club, which was absolutely amazing, very intense training sessions, top-notch coaches, I started to get reminiscent of the old days,” said Grossi. “Fast forward, here we are in the track season.”
Graenert got back into running after taking his kids to training sessions at the Newmarket club, and decided to join the club along with his wife several years ago. He also coaches there.
“It didn’t take long for me to get bored of watching other people train and having to get in there myself,” he said.
Graenert has competed in several master’s level competitions before, whereas Grossi was a master’s “rookie.”
“This is super serious and it’s very competitive, and it’s also very tactical. So it was a massive learning experience for me,” said Grossi.
“It’s pretty much like the Olympics, it is very high key, and has fairly strict rules,” added Graenert.
The competition ran from Aug. 13 to 25, with Graenert finishing seventh in the world in the men’s 55-age-group 800-metres, while Grossi finished 23rd in the men’s 50-age-group 1500-metres. As a relay team, Graenert and Grossi helped Canada finish sixth in the final.
Overall, Canada finished tenth in the medal’s table, with the U.S. coming in first.
Both men described the games as an “amazing” experience, and both said they plan to race again in future. Graenert nearly missed the games in Gothenurg after struggling with an injury, but said he feels the long-term health benefits of running.
“Mirco just keeps getting faster as he gets older,” said Grossi.
Grossi, who is a doctor by training, said competing in the games has given him a new perspective.
“This opened my eyes. I ended up winning the nationals but when you go to the worlds, you’re like, ‘Oh my God, these guys are super fast.’ It’s just driving me to train harder, want to run faster, eat properly.”
How long does he plan on competing?
“Until I can't run any longer,” laughed Grossi.
