Masters Grand Prix at Sheffield Hallam University Track – 13th July 2024

The Masters Grand Prix held at Sheffield Hallam University on the 13th of July 2024 was a resounding success, with the weather turning out better than expected. The event saw a fantastic turnout of Masters athletes, showcasing their talent and passion for track and field.

Event Manager Darren Scott and his team once again delivered a brilliant day of athletics. Donald Brown, the MC for the day, was fantastic, adding a vibrant atmosphere to the event. It was heartening to see many newcomers participating for the first time, truly embodying the spirit of the Masters Grand Prix.

One of the highlights was the participation of the very talented Tony Bowman, who at 88 years old, was the oldest man on show. Marie Scott, at 82 years old was the oldest woman, ran her first ever 100m, reminding everyone that age is just a number.

The field events saw some great battles, particularly between John Twiddle M55 and Greg Pell M50. The best male performance of the day went to M60 international athlete Allan Leiper, who achieved a shot put of 13.40m and a season-best discus throw of 43.75m, ranking him 2nd in the UK. Sarah Henton W50 earned the best female field performance with her discus throw of 36.58m, a season best that ranks her 7th in the world and 5th in Europe.

On the track, Mike Coogan M50 delivered outstanding performances, running the 100m in 11.47 seconds, ranking him number 1 in the UK, number 1 in Europe, and third in the world. He also ran the 200m in 23.11 seconds, again ranking him number 1 in the UK and Europe, and second in the world. W50 Yvette Henry’s brilliant 100m race, where she equalled the fastest time in the UK of 13.24 seconds, earned her the best female track performance, ranking her 8th in the world.

Other highlights of the day included W60 Melanie Garland’s long jump of 4.13m, Wayne Todd’s M45 javelin throw of 44.36m, Jack Poxson’s M40 long jump of 5.65m and triple jump of 11.63m, Julien Gittens’ M60 triple jump of 11.18m, and Laurensa Britane’s W35 clear win in the javelin with a throw of 38.79m.

The trophies were fantastic, and a massive thank you goes out to the sponsors for their support. A huge thank you also to all the officials and helpers who made the event possible. Overall, it was a day filled with remarkable performances and a testament to the enduring spirit of Masters athletics.

  • Number 24 Marie Scott 82 years old
  • Number 467 Tony Bowman 88 years old