Of the hundreds of races held over three days last April at the 2015 Penn Relays—races that feature the world’s best professional, collegiate, and high school runners—one of the loudest roars from the 48,920 spectators came during the men’s 75 and older 100-meter dash.

Fourteen runners toed the line in two sections, with Alby Williams, 75, winning in 14.15 seconds and Champ Goldy, Other Hearst Subscriptions.

Jessie Beers-Altman, a filmmaker who lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, captured the spirit of that 100-meter dash in her short film, Published: Mar 10, 2016 2:18 PM EST, which is available to view in full, above. 

“People go to Penn Relays to see the big-time levels of racing like the pros and the Georgetowns,” Beers-Altman told Runner’s World, “but they get excited about the high school and the 75 and up races, too. It’s a marriage of all levels of the sport and the spirit of running.”

Beers-Altman had been going to the Penn Relays since she raced at the event in high school. Now she is a recreational runner, but Beers-Altman couldn’t pass up the opportunity to feature the “larger than life” atmosphere of the relays—and the 75 and older 100-meter race is the perfect example.

She was able to capture a first at the 2015 race, too. Betty Leander, an 85-year-old grandmother, became the first woman to compete in the event.

In the film, Leander jokes that she doesn’t want to embarrass her family in the race, which she notes was called the “Men's 75 and up 100-meters.” 

But instead of embarrassment, Leander inspired by finishing in 31.27 seconds.

For Beers-Altman, making the film was an uplifting experience. She wanted to show a group of highly motivated masters racers who aren’t focused on how much time they have left on earth, but how much time they can take off their 100.

“I was anticipating the masters racers would all be former runners,” Beers-Altman said. “To my surprise, all three people in the film picked up running in their 70s and 80s. I couldn’t believe they were picking up a new skill—one that you wouldn’t think people that age would have the gumption to do.”