Allan Leiper has broken the British indoor M60 shot record with a put of 14.52, adding another ten centimetres to the mark he set in January last year.
Competing during the Indoor Inter-Area Challenge at Lee Valley, in the yellow and green of Southern Counties Vets, the 62-year-old opened with 14.16, 13.79, and 13.95, before unleashing his record-breaking 14.52 effort in the fourth and final round.
Speaking after the event, Leiper was delighted with his efforts, saying: “I’m very happy to break it again. In Tampere, outdoors, I did do 14.64, so I knew it was there, but I just connected with it today, which I’m really chuffed with.”
That 14.64 put in Finland gave Leiper a world silver medal, and he is again looking forward to international competition.
He said: “In 5 weeks’ time we’ve got Torun, European Indoors, and with that sort of performance, I should medal. So, I’m up for a medal there, I’m looking forward to that.”
Eight years ago, Leiper set the British M55 decathlon record on the way to a world title, and is still embracing multi-events, having competed in six different disciplines so far this season.
He said: “In 2015 I was world masters decathlon champion, so to come and mix it with the individual eventers, and break British records, is fantastic.
“I joked with them that I’m a pole vaulter, not a thrower. They don’t like that, but I love the fact that I’m still active in different events.”
