VETERAN Angela Copson rolled back the years to record a new world record time in the 10km Great Manchester Run.
The Rugby & Northampton Athletics Club (R&N) star set another marker in what has been a stellar career by smashing the women’s over 65 time by finishing the race in 40 minutes and 30 seconds.
The 68-year-old wiped a minute off the previous record at Europe’s biggest 10km race, and also picked up a new personal best time for 5km by running to the half-way mark in 20.01.
The result saw Copson take gold in her age category by nearly four minutes which placed her 21st out of all female competitors and 440th overall.
“The weather was good and it (the world record) was just worth going for,” said Copson speaking the the BBC immediately after the race.
“I’m delighted. My coach told me to go off slow but with such a send off (from the crowds at the race) I thought, ‘I’ll go off pretty quick and when I get around the corner, I’ll slow up’. But I felt OK and just kept going, trying to get a good time.
“I don’t think it was easy but it was one of my better runs and I enjoyed it. Running is just fun for me. I enjoy what I do. I don’t particularly think, ‘I’ve got to go on the track’ or, ‘I’ve got to go on the road’. I just enjoy thinking, ‘what’s next? What would be fun?’”
Elsewhere, R&N’s men’s team took fifth place at the opening East Midlands Grand Prix event of the season.
Taking place over 10km at Silverstone the R&N team secured a time of two hours, 31 minutes and 37 seconds to finish in the top five overall and fourth in the men’s competition.
R&N’s veteran men’s team finished third in 2:37:35, a minute and a half behind Wellingborough & District (2:36:07).
Jonathan Burke led R&N home in a time of 37:12, followed by Mike Andrews (37:44), Adam Mole (38:01), Alistair McDonnell (38:40) and Terry Egan (39:01).
