The achievement Stone was most proud of was his time of 49.86 seconds in the final of the 35-39 years 400 metres.

It was a far stretch from his personal best of 48.3 seconds, but at 35 he knows he will never best that time.

“It was my first time under 50 seconds for two years,” Stone said of his run at nationals.

“50 seconds is a significant barrier, especially as I get older.”

The first time Stone broke the 50 second barrier he was 17, meaning he has produced sub 50 seconds runs an amazing 18 years apart.

To emphasise how rare of an achievement Stone’s is, only four people from Armidale have ever ran under 50 seconds for the 400 metres.

“I’ve done it almost every season since I was 17,” he said.

“I’ve done it almost 50 times now.

“It’s the longevity that I’m most proud of.

“It’s always good to add another sub 50 run to the tally.”

Competitively, the last two years have been a challenge for Stone.

He has battled a severe achilles injury that has hampered his training and racing.

“I was starting to wonder whether I would get back there again,” Stone said of his fitness levels.

“I won state with a time of 51 seconds six weeks ago.

“To get back under 50 in six weeks took a lot of hard work and a lot of pain.

“But to get the result in the end, it was all worth it.”

Stone also won the 35-39 years 200 metres national title in a time of 22.86.

“It wasn’t a very fast time,” he said.

“But it was bucketing down rain and there was a head wind.

“I was pretty happy considering the conditions.”

Competing in athletics is only half of Stone’s involvement in the sport.

He is also the head coach of the Armidale Athletics Club.

“I broke my foot in 2004, I couldn’t run, but I couldn’t stay away from the track, so I decided to get my coaching certificate,” he said.

Stone currently coaches 40 athletes and said he gets just as big a thrill when one of his athletes does well as he does when he performs well personally.

“It’s a different feeling, but it’s really rewarding,” he said.

“It’s always good to know what you are doing is working.

“We have a special thing here in Armidale with our squad.

“There is great camaraderie.”

After his two wins at nationals, Stone is now eligible to compete at the World Masters Games in Lyon, France later this year.

But with Perth to host the event in 2016, Stone is yet to make a call on whether he will make the trip to France, or wait for Perth.

“One of those two I will go to,” he said.

“I’ve had my eye on [the World Masters] for years.”