The Heath's "Flying Scott" smashes Master's 55 200 metre world record

Days after winning gold in the 2024 World Masters Athletics Championships (WMA) in Gothenburg, veteran sprinter Darren Scott has smashed the world record in the 200 metres for athletes aged over 55.

The "Flying Scott", a fitness instructor in the gym at The Heath Business and Technical Park in Runcorn, made his record breaking run at an Open Track event on Sunday, September 8th at Stratford, London, where he raced against athletes who were between 25 to 35 years younger than him.

Though finishing runner-up, he smashed the M55 200 metres record by two tenths of a second in a time of 23.04 seconds. The record was previously held by USA athlete Willie Gault, a former NFL star who played for Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Raiders and considered one of the fastest NFL players of all time. After retiring from pro-football Gault turned his focus to Masters Athletics.

After striking gold in Gothenburg, Darren returned home and had immediately set his sights on his world record attempt.

Earlier in the afternoon at Stratford, Darren also broke the M55 100 metres British and European records in a time of 11.46, taking over a tenth of a second off the previous best held by GB runner Ron Taylor which had stood for 34 years.

Chuffed by his success, Darren said his accomplishments were even more satisfying as these races were not Master’s competitions. "I was racing against youngsters with many of them more than 30 years younger than me, so I was the old boy in the field!"

Darren added: "This has rounded off a brilliant season with me winning gold medals in the British, European and World Championships and now breaking the world record too. The summer season is now drawing to a close and I plan to rest up before the 2024/2025 indoor Master’s Athletics season which starts in December. My aim for 2025 is to run faster than I did in 2024 and to win more medals and set more record times."

Masters athletes have to be 35 or over to compete with competitions bracketed in five year age spans. He won his first 200 metres gold medal in the WMA M35 category and went on to win the M40, M45 and M50. Darren’s victory in Gothenburg last month means he retains his World Champion status.

Since he started competing in Masters Athletics 20 years ago Darren has won over 100 gold, silver and bronze medals at major championships around the world.

Darren took up athletics when he was 21 and competed at international level for Scotland. But it was when he turned 35 and became eligible for Masters’ competitions that he took the world by storm, winning numerous gold medals and smashing records competing against athletes who, in their heyday, have graced Olympics’ tracks.

Darren, who lives in Runcorn and represents St Helens Sutton Athletics’ Club where he trains, was featured on BBC North-West Tonight on Friday, September 6th where he told viewers of his weekend world record attempt.

John Lewis MBE, the owner of The Heath Business and Technical Park, says: "We’re immensely proud of Darren and his achievements, especially this year, which certainly deserves wider recognition. Just how many current ‘World Record’ holders do we have in Halton Borough and the Liverpool City Region? Well, we have at least one and his name is Darren Scott!"

About The Heath
The Heath Business and Technical Park is a phenomenal regeneration success story. Formed in 2000, its owner and operator, SOG Ltd, has transformed a once single occupancy corporate facility into a thriving independent business park. The Heath now provides office and laboratory accommodation for more than 120 individual organisations, ranging from business services and IT specialists to those at the cutting edge of science, research and advanced manufacturing. Around 2,000 people are employed at the site. For further information, telephone 01928 515988 or visit www.theheath.com

For more information, please see:
www.theheath.com

PAUL SMITH ASSOCIATES
10th September 2024