Breaking Records and Building Community | Karla Del Grande (BA 1974)

“You’re never too old, only too young,” Karla Del Grande nee Peters (BA 1974) stated, reflecting on how she began her career as a masters sprinter at the age of 50. Karla has since found her place in the Ontario and Canadian Masters Athletics Halls of Fame, and on the Wall of Fame at Variety Village, the fitness facility where she trains. She was named the World Masters Athletics (WMA) Female Sprint Athlete of the Year in 2019, and WMA Female Athlete of the Decade 2010-2019. “This latter award recognized my longevity and continued excellence in my sport,” Karla explained.

She has consistently placed in the top world rankings in her events, with multiple Canadian and world records (21 thus far), and medals earned at Canadian Masters Athletics and WMA events (23 gold, 6 silver), from the 45 to 70 women’s age categories. “I’m the only woman so far to run my age in the 400 metres – doing so twice – at age 68 and age 69,” Karla stated. This is a quirky point of pride, usually reserved for male 400 metre runners.  Masters compete in 5-year age groups from age 35 and up, and Karla continues to compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m sprinting and 200m hurdles (all outdoors), and 60m, 200m and 400m sprinting (indoors). She was just recently named CMA Athlete of the Year 2023 in Sprints and Hurdles, broke 2 more outdoor world records, and will be competing at the WMA World Championships in August 2024 in Sweden. 

As an undergraduate at the University of Waterloo, Karla found a home at Conrad Grebel University College. “Because I come from Mennonite heritage, but was not raised in the Mennonite Church, it was important for me to understand what that meant for me when I came to Grebel,” she said. At Grebel, Karla explored her family genealogy and gained a greater understanding of the history that shaped the lives of her Saskatchewan grandparents and family. “I gained a lot of respect for the core values of pacifism and social responsibility,” she shared. “It may not seem to show outwardly as a theme in my life, but I’m still deeply conscious of these values.”

After completing her Bachelor of Arts at Waterloo, Karla obtained her BEd in Elementary Education and Physical Education at the University of Toronto and began teaching. She taught ESL, Library, Computers, and Physical Education in various combinations, and served as Literacy Coordinator and Chairperson working with teachers. She also coached cross-country and track and field in every school she taught at. Karla retired in 2011, ending her educational career as a Teacher-Librarian. “I always liked the variety of different ages and challenges,” she recalled. After retirement, she worked with Milt Ottey’s OT Fitness organization for a few years, running fitness activities in schools. Karla also volunteered as a club coach and worked at Variety Village, managing after school and summer track camps.

While the medals and records are tangible rewards, Karla is most proud of the longevity and continued excellence she has achieved in her sport. “I try to be an ambassador – showing what women my age are capable of and encouraging others to find their own ways of keeping fit as they age, regardless of the event or activity,” Karla stated. “I’ve also given back by coaching, volunteering as an official, and on the Ontario and Canadian Masters Athletics Boards of Directors.” Attending her first world championship in Puerto Rico in 2003 was an especially rewarding occasion, as it set her on the path to competing seriously in masters athletics. “I realized that I belonged to a worldwide community of masters track and field athletes, all of us doing our best in our sport, in spite of our age,” Karla described.  

“Training and competing seem like an anomaly where I live, but when I compete, I meet other women my age from around the world who train in many different circumstances,” Karla described. “Some train in fields, some with younger elite athletes, some totally on their own, some juggling personal situations of caring for children or aging parents, some coming from a lifetime of sport, some beginning sport at age 60 or 70... there's such diversity!”  Karla, her teammates, and competitors come together at events, share pieces of their lives, and then get on the start line to race. Through social media, they try to keep their community together in between track meets.

“The importance of community was something that stands out to me from my experience at Grebel,” Karla remembered. For students like Karla, whose residence experience was also the first time she had lived away from home, the friends she made at the College became very special. “The weekly Community Suppers helped a wide variety of personalities and backgrounds meet and interact,” she continued. “This became a theme in my life – whenever I’ve moved to a new community or school, I’ve sought to find my own support group within that new place, and to help others feel included in that community.”  

Karla’s value of community has remained important in both her training circle and competition presence. She has also made many meaningful friendships through Variety Village. “The people I meet here, of all abilities and fitness levels, are my community and my circle of influence, as their basic goals are the same as mine – to keep healthy and happy as one ages,” she said. “It also gives me satisfaction to take it further with my competing, to show what women my age can accomplish in terms of times in my races. I like to set the bar high, to challenge others to break the records that I’ve set.”   

Outside of teaching, Karla takes pride in the fact that she raised her daughter as a single mother, and together they enjoyed camping, cross-country skiing, and travelling. Now, her daughter and husband Al LePage, are her biggest supporters.

Reflecting on her undergraduate experience, Karla noted, “time at university is a great opportunity to explore so many aspects of one’s personality, interests, friendships, as well as opportunities for careers.” She further advised, “don’t let one aspect overshadow the others – learn and experience many diverse areas.”  

“In 2003, at age 50, I began my ‘career’ as a masters sprinter,” Karla explained. “I hope to continue my sport as long as I can.”

By Natasha Forth

Karla Del Grande nee Peters (BA 1974) is a retired teacher and a current masters sprinter. She lived at Grebel while studying at the University of Waterloo. Karla has been awarded many titles in her sport, breaking and holding records, including two women’s 70+ age-group world records that earned two medals for Team Canada in the 2023 World Masters Indoor Championships.

Karla's story is part of Grebel's 60 Stories for 60 Years project. Check out our 60 Stories page for more articles in this series. If you would like to nominate a Grebel alumnus to share about their experiences at Grebel, please submit a nomination form.