Leigh Runner, 83

A LEIGH athlete in his 80s has scored two gold medals in this year’s European Indoor Masters Championships.
Allan Long, 83, returned from Toruń, Poland, where he triumphed across three competitions.
Achieving Gold in the 200m GB relay squad, his most treasured achievement this championship was achieved gold for the coming in at just 9.50 seconds in the 60-metre sprint.
Not only this, but he also finished in Bronze medal position in the 200-metre with a time of 33.08 seconds.
The European Indoor Masters Championships sees almost 3,500 athletes from 39 European countries compete.
The event is for competitors over the age of 35, grouped into five-year age bands.
Mr Long, a former finance worker, is astonishingly a relative newcomer to competing, and only took up competitive athletics seven years ago.
Joining Herne Hill Harriers in his 70s after years of casual running, he attended his first Masters event in 2019.
Since then, he has trained regularly, often using Leigh station steps, telling Leigh News: “I get a lot out of a short space of time.”
Shortlisted in Athletics Weekly for Male Masters Athlete of 2023, Mr Long’s passion for his craft and his unwavering commitment have earned him the respect and admiration of athletes young and old alike.
He added: “Lots of people can take up running, even if you do have physical or health issues.
“I’m a real advocate for it. It has served me well over the years!”
Picture: Allan Long at this year’s event in Toruń
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