John Wright sets M65 100m world record in 12.03 at World Masters

John Wright lowered the M65 100m world record to 12.03 as Britain made a strong start to the World Masters Championships in Daegu. The British athlete finished around five metres clear of Austria’s Alexander Berger, who ran 12.57.

Wright had already set a championships record of 12.23 in the semi-final. His winning time improved the previous world best of 12.15, which he recorded in Derby last year. He now has the 200m, 400m and relay events ahead of him in Daegu.

There was a concern after Wright appeared to aggravate his hamstring during the 200m. His record came in a 0.6 metres-per-second tailwind, and it was one of several notable British performances during the first four days of competition.

Rob McHarg, the European champion, won the M60 800m in 2:09.06, finishing more than seven seconds ahead of the field. David Proctor took the M40 800m in 1:53.59, while Virginia Mitchell won the W60 800m. Sarah Roberts claimed the W75 800m in 3:12.56 by a 22-second margin and also won the W75 10km.

Alison Wilder recovered the lead in the W35 triple jump with an 11.99m effort in the final round. Joe Appiah set a British M55 long-jump record of 6.12m while taking silver. Evaun Williams won the W85 hammer, and Madeleine Armstrong-Plieth added victory in the W45 10km.

The championships have also produced world records for American Kenton Brown in the M80 100m, with 14.16, and Thailand’s Somdanga Boonnok in the W70 80m hurdles, with 15.61. Nigeria’s Toyin Augustus set a championships record of 11.53 in the W45 80m hurdles, while Benin’s Noelle Yarigo won the W40 800m in 2:10.55.