Coming within an inch of victory at the World Championships in Italy last September has rocketed Blue Mountains Athlete of the Year, Ranell Hobson, and her relay team into the history books.

As captain of the Australian Masters Athletics 4 x 100m team, gold slipped through her fingers at the Worlds in a photo-finish race which saw Germany first across the line by a fraction of a second.

But rather than dwell on the narrow defeat, the team used it to spur them through a world record run at Blacktown Olympic Park on March 23.

Comprising four athletes, together Julie Brimms (Qld), Kylie Strong (NSW) and Gianna Mogentale (NSW) toppled the magic number of 48.63 seconds set by a French team in in the 4 x 100m more than 20 years ago, slashing almost a full second off the long-standing record.

Playing a crucial role in the momentous occasion, Ranell’s station as the youngest and nimblest starter in the team saw the 35-year-old run the important initial leg.

Elsewhere at the National Championships, Ranell took gold in her pet 60m, 100m, 100m hurdles, and 200m sprints. She collected minor medals in the field events, losing momentum in the 400m and taking third place.

Last Australia Day the Winmalee athlete was the recipient of Blue Mountains City Council’s Sports Achievement Award, the honour recognising medal hauls at the 2007 Pan Pacific Masters Games and the Australian Masters Athletics Championships.