Darren Scott set an M45 world indoor record for 200 meters at the Eurovets meet last week in Torun, Poland. Kenton Brown set an M70 indoor WR in the 60 at Winston-Salem nationals. Through the magic of the interwebs, I scored interviews with both of them! (See below). Of Darren, we learn from the news: “The North-West fitness instructor, who works at The Heath Leisure Suite in Runcorn and competes for St Helens and Sutton, took the title 22.52 seconds, knocking 0.05 seconds off the reigning global best time set by legendary US athlete Bill Collins back in 1999.” Of Kenton, we learn: “M70 Kenton Brown of Austin, Texas, [ran] 8.18, which was .02 faster than previous record of 8.20 (by Bobby Whilden in 2006).” Both have plans for more records — and visits to Lyon, France.

Darren writes:

Torun was a fantastic stadium and my plan was to try and break the world record as I knew I was in great shape.

Having a go at it in Birmingham in February and just missing it by 0.01, I truly believe I could do it in Torun.

Training had gone even better than before. I believed I could run 22.45-22.55, so when I won my heat in 23.08 from lane 3 cruising round — then I knew it was on. Semifinal, I had lane 5 and decided to have a go it then.

My start was good and [also] the back straight, but the final curve I ran too wide and nearly ended up in lane 6 so crossing the line in 22.60, then I knew for definite that if I get the last curve better then I would do it and in the final I ran it a lot better, so a great feeling.

Bill Collins is a Legend and a great guy — as we meet in Budapest at the world indoors last year and that was a proud moment to meet and talk with him.

I would say I could run 22.4 indoors. In 2011, after the world championships in Sacramento, I decided to retire from major meeting and just enjoy keeping fit and that is the last time I ran 21.8.

Then in June 2012, I met my future wife, Rebecca, and she said she would love to see me run. So I went back into training and said give me a few years and I will break a world record (she just laughed).

My first major championship was the world indoors Budapest 2013, where I won the 200m in 23.19.

Rebecca said: “I thought you was gonna run a world record.”

But I always said to her: I am not in shape and training has not going as good as I hoped.

My 2013 season ended up with me running 11.35 100m and 22.66 200m.
Then I team up with a younger master Marvin Edwards, who was wanting to compete at this year’s European Indoors in Torun and running a 60m M35.
his all-time PR was 7.31. We trained well together over the winter and we where both getting quicker.

So I was delighted when he ran a PR of 7.17 — a big improvement — and made the 60m final, finishing 7th in 7.30 (pressure got him). He will learn from the experience.

I never really fancy a 60m. Too short for me.

I have run 7.27 this year and maybe run a 7.1 if I trained more for it.
Would love to have a go at a 400m outdoors and see if I can break 50 flat. The indoor 400m record is fantastic and I may try for that next season too.

Willie Gault’s [M45 outdoor] record of 21.8 is amazing, but I believe I can run sub-22. But my training needs to be spot on and keep injury free and get my 100m time to sub-11. So yes, I think I can break it if I get the 100m time down.

These guys have set the bar high and it motivates me to see if I can be as good. They are legends. Would love to be in the same class as them.
Keep winning major championships and set records along the way is what gives me the drive.

Rebecca and I got married in June 2015. She has been brilliant and very supportive and fantastic to be along side me and sharing in the joy of my success. Rebecca loved the championships and holding her nerve to video the races. She felt sick watching it all … but in a good way.

Kenton writes:

I knew it was possible if I executed all phases of the run properly. I had run in the low 8.2s a few times in recent months. I have been retooling my running technique the last few years with my coach David Patrick.

I have been very close to beating some of the best sprinters (Robbins, Allie, Vybostok) so I knew with good technique and hard work I might get over the top.

I am still working as a psychiatrist, although I am slowly reducing my hours each year. I first ran at the Texas State Senior Games in 11/2009; I was urged to enter by a softball buddy.

With no training and in tennis shoes, I won the 50/100/200 and began to train in 3/2010 with Lacena Clark. I did play Little League baseball for a few years but was a tennis player through high school. Played some basketball as well. I never ran track.

I grew up in Tulsa and graduated from Cascia Hall in a class of 40. I attended U of Notre Dame and, other than two years on the tennis team, played intramural basketball, wrestling and touch football. I do live in central Austin just two miles from the capital.

I have been married 10 years; this is a second marriage. I have four children, three stepchildren, and three grandchildren. Two of my children were fencers; one was nationally ranked and fenced for Columbia.

This summer I plan to compete at the National Senior Games, the USATF outdoor nationals and the world masters in Lyon. My 100m goal is less than 12.77 and my 200m goal is less than 27. I only do sprints.

I also play tournament softball as well as playing on a couple of local teams.