You can't slow down Anthony DaPonte.

The 86-year-old Warren native scored a bronze medal over the weekend during the USA Track & Field Masters National Indoor Championship event, held by The Armory Foundation in New York City on March 20.

DaPonte competed in the 200-meter event for peopled aged 85-89, earning third place among the national competition with a time of 47.31.

“I started at La Salle in 1952 and I haven’t stopped running since,” DaPonte said on Tuesday morning, reflecting on the event.

DaPonte recalled running various annual events throughout the decades in Warren — a five-miler in the 60s, 5Ks throughout the 1970s, the Ocean Tide Senior Games and, more modern, the Finish for a Guinness 5K that began a few years back.

Throughout his lifetime of running, DaPonte said the thing he enjoys seeing most is the proliferation of women that have become involved in the sport.

“You go to events these days and there’s more women registered than men,” he said.

Running at the Armory Track, noted as the nation’s premiere indoor track arena that hosts over 100 meets each year, was an emotional experience for DaPonte, who held the Ukrainian flag in solidarity with those embroiled in the conflict overseas.

“It was overwhelming he said,” choking up on the phone. “Everybody was favorable.”

DaPonte said this event will be his last competitive run, as the physical toll of training has become more and more difficult throughout the years.

“My two adult children said, ‘Yeah yeah, you said that last year,’ but this time I mean it,” he said.

Once again taking a moment to collect his emotions, DaPonte reflected on how running had positively impacted his life.

“In my case, I had depression and the medicine from the psychiatrist didn’t help. Exercise, in my case running, helped,” he said. “I want to recognize a couple of things. My family’s support, my wife, my club, which is the Providence Ronald McDonald Club, the Barrington YMCA. I’ve gotten a lot of support. And I thank God.”