102-year-old runner sets half marathon record

BILL Cooksey, a World War II veteran, set a world record when he became the oldest runner to complete a half marathon.

In addition to British athletics legend Mo Farah retiring at the age of 40, the 2023 Great North Run half marathon also witnessed another historic milestone.

William Cooksey, commonly known as Bill, walked and completed the 21.0975km distance from Newcastle to South Shields, with the support of his friend Gavin Iceton.

Mr. Cooksey (middle) next to his companion Gavin Icetgon (right) on the Great North Run 2023. Photo: BBC

The former English teacher, who served in the British Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1941 to 1951, overcame heavy rains to reach the finish line after 5 hours and 41 minutes.

Cooksey raised £15,000 (more than $18,000) for County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust. He is attending the Great North Run 2023 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NHS and hopes the money raised will help support the wellbeing of those who work and are supported by the NHS.

"I'm very happy to complete the competition. I wish we didn't have to go through that rain, but we did it," Daily Mail quoted Cooksey as saying.

In The Mirror , the veteran added: "I hope this achievement will inspire others to try the same thing."

Cooksey trained for the Great North Run 2023 by walking 11.2km a week and a 19.3km long run in five and a half hours a few weeks before the race.

102-year-old Bill Cooksey finishes the 2023 HM Great North Run.

This isn't the first time Cooksey has done an endurance challenge to raise money for the NHS. For his 100th birthday in 2021, he walked 10 miles (16 km) every day for 10 days, raising £2,600. Last year, he cycled 1,000 miles (1,600 km) in 10 weeks, raising £1,610 to help patients with serious illnesses.

The Great North Run is the world's largest half marathon, taking place every year in North East England in September. Participants will run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields - a route run by former 10,000m Olympic bronze medalists and Designed by BBC Sport commentator Brendan Foster. The Great North Run was first held in 1981 with 12,000 athletes. This number increased to 54,000 in 2011.

At the recent event on September 10, Tamirat Tola of Ethopia - Eugene 2022 world marathon champion - finished first with 59 minutes 58 seconds. Peres Jepchirchir won the women's race in 1 hour, 6 minutes and 45 seconds.