© Copyright – 2024 – Athletics Illustrated

Irish runner Tommy Hughes age 64 appears to be on the precipice of rewriting the Ed Whitlock-dominated age-group record book.

Hughes clocked a new world age-group best-known time in the 10-mile race finishing in the time of 58:13.

Hughes wrote on social media, “Delighted to run a World 10 mile record for a 64-year-old (single age record) at the Portaferry 10 mile road race. The record was held by the one and only Ed Whitlock (Canada) of 1 hour and 9 seconds set in Hamilton, Canada on 26th December 1995. I am going to the Irish national 10-mile road race championships in Phoenix Park, Dublin this weekend to try and improve on that time.”

*Athletics Ireland’s social media post after another record run in 2022.

In 2020, Hughes, age 61, bettered the world marathon record by over six minutes in the 60-65 age group – he finished in the time of 2:30:02.

On May 5, 2024, Hughles clocked 2:36:37, at the Belfast Marathon, which is the fastest 64-age marathon performance of all time.

The key factor in Hughes being able to tackle the 65-70, 70-74 and 75-79 age group records mostly set by Whitlock, will be having the ability to consistently train as he continues to age.

Whitlock ran all of his records before the advent of the super shoe.

Canada’s Whitlock (former of Great Britain), died in 2017.

Results

Below is a small sample listing of records that may be in Tommy Hughes’ future. Note, the slowdown per age group in some of the events.

DistanceAthleteAgeRecordLocationDate
3000mDerek Turnbull659:47.40Christchurch, New Zealand08/02/92
3000mEddy Vierendeels7010:38.98Nonove, BelguimNonove, Belgium
5000mAlastair Walker6516:36.59Tullamore, Ireland13/08/22
5000mEd Whitlock7519:07.02Dieppe, France23/07/06
10,000mEd Whitlock7038:04.13Brisbane, Australia09/07/01
10,000mEd Whitlock7539:25.16Dieppe, France21/07/06
10,000mEd Whitlock8042:39.95Sacramento, USA11/07/11
10,000mEd Whitlock8551:07.53Toronto, Canada12/08/16
10,000mDerek Turnbull6534:42.20Christchurch, New Zealand13/03/92
12KEd Whitlock6544:27Buffalo, USA10/13/99
12KDoug Goodhue7048:37Alexandria, USA11/16/14
15KCees Stolwijk6054:32.0Nijmegen, Netherlands17/11/93
15KEd Whitlock6555:04Utica, USA9/07/00
15KEd Whitlock7058:19Guelph, Canada29/04/01
15KEd Whitlock751:00:29Schenectady, USA12/11/06
15KEd Whitlock801:07:05Schenectady, USA13/11/11
15KEd Whitlock851:15:10Schenectady, USA13/11/16
MarathonDerek Turnbull652:41:57London, UK4/12/92
MarathonJoseph Schoonbroodt702:54:19Maas, Belgium5/8/22
MarathonEd Whitlock753:04:53Rotterdam, Netherlands4/15/07
MarathonEd Whitlock803:15:53Toronto, Canada10/16/07
MarathonEd Whitlock853:56:38Toronto, Canada10/16/11
*Whitlock was the first 70-year-old to break 3:00:00 in the marathon, since bettered by Joseph Schoonbroodt of the Netherlands in 2022