ORONO – Lost among the handful of former Olympians and the whirlwind of competition Sunday on the final day of the USA Track & Field Masters national championships at the University of Maine’s Beckett Family Track Complex was a 93-year-old man from Knoxville, Tenn., who overcame some long odds to return to nationals for the 13th time in 14 years.

A recent health issue had kept Dr. Max Springer, one of the oldest competitors at this weekend’s event, from running for most of the past year and even put into question if he would be competing this weekend.

But the professor emeritus of plant and soils science from the University of Tennessee received a clean bill of health from doctors three or four months ago that changed all that. In those few months, he returned to his workout regiment of running three miles every other day and got himself back in shape to the point he could return to the track.

“I’m out here mostly because of my stubbornness,” joked Springer. “I’m not in the best shape. I know I could do better out there. … The secret is persistence.”

In spite of it all – his age, health concerns and lack of training – Springer competed in five events this weekend, winning the national title in the long and triple jumps, earning two silvers in the 400 and 800 and a bronze in the 200.

“I wouldn’t say I’m doing great, but I’m doing better than expected,” Springer said. “The remarkable thing is that, the group of us that still competes, we all remain friends. I don’t feel bad losing to these guys. You just do your best and let the competition dictate where you’ll finish.”

Springer got a late start at his track and field career. He did not compete in high school or even in college at the University of Missouri like most athletes do. Instead, his introduction in track came nearly 30 years ago as a professor at Tennessee.

A staff-oriented physical fitness class in 1978 that was led by a former runner got Springer interested in running. Soon after, he began competing in 5- and 10-kilometer races.

“I wouldn’t have gotten interested in track if it wasn’t for that class,” Springer said. “I found out I was proficient at running and kept at it.”

It was roughly 15 years ago when Springer switched to the shorter distances and began competing at the Masters championship, with his first being 14 years ago in East Lansing, Mich.

“I’ve been to all but one (championship) since then, and I’ve gone to the worlds three times,” Springer said. “I had fairly good luck at England (in 1999) and Puerto Rico (in 2003), but Spain (in 2005) was the best. I won two or three first place (titles) and a couples seconds there.”

It was his success, persistence and dedication to the sport that earned Springer a spot in the USATF Masters Hall of Fame last year.

“You have this feeling that you’re not that good,” Springer said about his induction into the Hall of Fame. “But then they give you this. I wouldn’t say I was overwhelmed because I usually don’t get that excited, but I was say that was a great honor.”

This year’s trip to Orono may very well be the last national championship Springer competes in. Being as old as he is, he doesn’t like to speculate much on the future. But as long as he is still running at that time, don’t think he won’t try to be there.

His own persistence and stubbornness will keep him to do that.

“I was almost finished after last year, but I recovered enough to make it here for this,” Springer said. “If I go to worlds, that will be in two years … I’ll leave that to chance. I’ll be at the top of my bracket at that point.

“Age will catch up with me sooner or later. We’ll see if I’m still active when I’m 95.”