Caroline Marler has already had a successful 2022. Already a British and European record holder in the relays, the Northern Masters athlete secured one of her own in the indoor pentathlon.
Scoring 3959 points across the 5 events, the W70 athlete took the British record with ease. Needing only to dip under 4:42 in the concluding 800 metres to break Sally Hine’s 2020 mark, Marler cruised home in 3:34.08.
Look back on Caroline’s record-breaking efforts in our Sheffield round-up here.
Caroline is a member of Otley Athletics Club, based outside of Leeds. A medallist at European and World Championships past and present, the W70 athlete has won world titles indoors and out..
In her 2021 season, the Northern Masters athlete took a pair of silver medals over 100 and 200 at the British Championships. Earlier in the year at the Inter-Area Championships, she won the W70 shot put competition with a throw of 7.90. That throw led the 2021 UK rankings, as Marler ranked in the top three of all events she contested that year.
Who are you, and what do you do in masters athletics?
I am a W70 athlete, competing now in 60 metres, 200 metres, and multi events. Until a few years ago I concentrated on 400 and 800 metres.
What is your earliest athletics memory?
Winning the school sprint at primary school, beating the boys!
What club(s) are you a member of?
Northern Masters Athletics Club, where I am Honorary President, and Otley Athletics Club.
How did you first get involved in masters athletics?
I started once I was 35.
Caroline made an immediate impact, winning the European 400 and 800 metre and World 400 metre titles in her first two years as a masters athlete! Results from the 1987 World Championships can be found here.
What is your favourite athletics moment?
Hard to say, but possibly winning the World Masters 800 metres in Brazil, taking the lead with 200 metres to go and holding it to the line.
See a report of Caroline’s victory at the 2013 World Championships here.
What are your masters athletics goals?
To win the European Masters Pentathlon in Braga with another British record and to win the Heptathlon in Tampere with a British record.
The European Masters Athletics Indoor Championships begin on February 20th, with the women’s pentathlons all occurring on the final day of competition, February 27th.
How do you prepare for a competition?
I seem to need a longer warm up as I get older! Scrambled eggs for breakfast is a favourite.
What is the most interesting thing you do outside of athletics?
I used to run a gym for drug addicts but I am now retired. I like trying new things, recently Qigong and Alexander Technique.
See a report featuring Caroline’s gym work, written ahead of the 2013 World Championships, here.
Who would be your dream athletics dinner guests?
Mary Rand and Ann Packer to hear what training was like in their times and Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Adam Gemili to hear how a modern day athlete’s life compares.
If you could change one thing in athletics, what would it be?
One false start and the athlete is disqualified.
Caroline is the first athlete to take on our new athlete profile series; if you would like to be involved, get in touch on Twitter @Masterathletic, through the Masters Athletics UK Facebook page, or email jdavis@bmaf.org.uk.
