He’s stationed at Redstone Arsenal
The 2025 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships are underway this week in Gainesville, Florida, and Army Master Sergeant Antoine Echols is once again representing the United States on the global stage as a defending world champion.
Stationed at Redstone Arsenal, Echols, 42, continues to fuel his passion in the competitive world of indoor track and field.
Echols, who specializes in the 200-meter dash, is no stranger to competition. He started running competitively in high school, his career marked by grit, determination, and focus.
“I think I was just born with it,” Echols said. “As a little kid growing up running barefoot in the street, I always had that fast-twitch muscle in me.”
That natural athleticism has fueled a career that now spans decades, with Echols still running with the same passion and speed.
“I love the challenge; it challenges me every day,” he said. "I’m still running 21 seconds in the 200-meter, I’m at 21.90."
His dedication to both his country and the sport he loves is supported by Army leadership and his family, who help him balance the disciplined world of military service with the demands of training for the track.
In the Masters circuit, he competes alongside athletes from various walks of life, proving that passion for sport doesn’t have an age limit.
“You have different people from different walks of life CEOs, lawyers, doctors, individuals like myself in uniform,” he said. "To see they’re still passionate about the sport is inspiring.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of the competition for Echols is the opportunity to interact with athletes of all ages, some of whom are decades older than he is. He believes that there’s much to be learned from athletes who continue to pursue their passions well into their senior years.
“From 35 up to 90+ years old, just being able to sit down with those individuals, have those conversations, and hear what got them here, it’s a lot,” he said. "The biggest thing is that they continue to move.”
Echols encourages athletes of all ages to pursue their dreams.
“Make sure you’re doing it for yourself, not for your parents or anyone else,” he shared. "Take on challenges and have fun along the way.”
For Echols, competing at this stage is about enjoying the sport.
“I go out there and have fun,” he said. “There’s no pressure, no scholarship, no grades, just me.”
