Here at NLM, we like to think of our staff as quick—as in intelligent, bright, clever, and sharp-witted.

But one member of our staff recently proved on the world stage—or shall we say world track—that she’s also quick footed.

Sandy Lee Triolo just returned from competing in the World Masters Indoor Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea (March 20 to 26).

Although the digital asset specialist contractor in NLM’s Audiovisual Program and Development Branch has competed nationally for the last five years, this was her first international competition.

The Gold Team: Left to right the W55 4x200M relay team: Lorraine Jasper, Cheryl Bellaire, NLM’s Sandy Lee Triolo, and Joy Upshaw.

She was curious.

Having just turned 55, Triolo said, “I just moved up to a new age group and felt ready to see how I would stack up to my age group in the rest of the world.” Five thousand athletes from all over the world competed.

Triolo said, “As for my performance, I started out well and then picked up steam and just rolled right through the week, feeling great and getting faster at each race.”

As a sprinter, she didn’t take anything for granted. “I felt lucky to be feeling good with no issues popping up physically. I ran season best times in every outing and made the final of all my races,” Triolo said. “That alone is an accomplishment for Worlds and for running seven races in seven days, with one day off in the middle.”

Triolo saved her best race for last.

“We had five 55-year-old women at Worlds on the US team, so four of us combined to create a W55 4x200M relay team. All three of my relay teammates were multi-gold winning athletes at the world level,” she explains. “Surrounded by so much talent, I had to rise to the challenge.”

But she was worried.

“I had run a fast 400M earlier in the day and was concerned about having tired legs, but when the time came I didn’t feel tired at all,” she said. “I was able to blast off and close the gap with the runner ahead of me by the end of my lap.”

The team won gold, setting a new American record for the age group.

“Our names are in the books for the American record,” said Triolo of her and teammates Cheryl Bellaire, Lorraine Jasper, and Joy Upshaw.

Sandy Lee Triolo now says, “I guess you could say I’ve earned my nickname—AKA Speedy Lee.”

Congratulations!