Strive Racing Club’s Tommy Hughes set a new record once again at yesterday’s Lisburn Festival of Running Marathon with a time of 2:30:02, making a new Over 60 World Marathon record.

Because of the recent coronavirus restrictions, the event was limited to only a handful of elite athletes and had also been delayed by 24 hours because of the anticipated storm winds.

Despite the extra effort made by the event organisers, the conditions were still windy, but this did not deter Tommy, who set a fast pace from the start, reaching the half way point in 74:32. The previous Over 60 Marathon record was set by Japan’s Yoshinisa Hosaka in 2009, with a time of 2:36:30.

At the finish, Hughes just missed the 2 hour 30 minute break, by only 2 seconds, but beat the previous world record by almost 6 minutes. He was followed by Colin Herron, who finished in a PB of 2:30:50, and David Hamilton who finished in 2:41:46.

This recent record adds to a stellar 28 year career, including claiming the Guinness World Record Father and Son combined record at the Frankfurt Marathon over a year ago with son, Eoin Hughes; the Barcelona Olympics Marathon in 1992; a win at the Marrakesh Marathon, and two wins at the Belfast Marathon in 1988 and 1998.

Media Release Athletics NI