Diana Furey is a 52-year-old grandmother of two who not only made a bold decision to return to college in her 50s but also tried out for — and made — her university’s cross country and track and field teams. 

That now makes her the oldest female ever to compete in NCAA athletics.

Diana is a middle distance runner for Malone University in Ohio. She explains why she decided to return to college after her children were mostly grown, nearly 20 years after she first started pursing her degree. 

She says her journey to collegiate sports was mostly luck and timing. This year is just the sixth anniversary of running. Diana reveals the event that inspired her to go for her first first run one summer day six years ago and what running does for her now. 

Plus, find out what her younger teammates think about her competing and how they treat her.