Darren Scott
(Photo by Tom Phillips)

A British newspaper reports that M40 sprinter Darren Scott of Trafford AC a couple Sundays ago ran the indoor 200 in 21.81 seconds, smashing the listed WMA world record of  21.94 by Italy’s  Enrico Saraceni in 2005. (Results are here.) The report says Darren “insisted he is not on his own at the top. The 40-year-old from Runcorn . . . promptly shared the glory with long-standing hometown coach Morris Condon – father of former international sprinter turned GB bobsleigh star Allyn. “A big thank you goes to Morris because without his expertise and knowledge, I wouldn’t have done it,” admitted Scott. “It is a good partnership.” Scott, of Weston Point, is just a month into his comeback after almost a year out with ankle trouble, says the story.

Adds the article:

His time of 21.81 secs, earning the Trafford AC ace a silver medal at the North of England Championships at Sheffield on Sunday, smashed the hitherto global best of 21.94. The final saw Scott finish behind 21-year-old Richard Kilty (21.41) of Gateshead Harriers. . . .  “I knew I was in good shape as I had run my fastest 60m for 12 years the week before with 6.98,” added Scott. “I’m really chuffed to get the world record. “I’ll just keep going and see what other landmarks come up – it keeps me motivated. Me and Morris think I’ve got a little bit more in the tank yet and can maybe run a 21.7.

On January 14, another story in the same paper telegraphed the record:

Athletics: Sprinter Darren Scott goes for world record

Jan 14 2010 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

DARREN Scott is to launch a world record attempt after setting two British bests within weeks of coming back from an 11-month injury lay-off.

Masters sprinter Scott, 40, was sidelined by a mystery ankle injury sustained at an indoor meeting this time last year.

But December saw the Runcorn runner return with the fastest ever indoor 300m time by a Briton in the 40-45 age group. He clocked 37.1 secs at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield to smash the previous best of 38.87. However, a more significant result came three days into the new year at the Sale Harriers Open at Sportcity in Manchester.

His 22.21 to beat the existing national age group record of 22.37 was particularly satisfying. Not only was it a much tougher milestone to reach, but Scott’s display also drew a line under the Trafford AC veteran’s injury problems. It was at the same meeting in 2009 that he got hurt.

Now Scott heads back to Sheffield this Sunday for the North of England Indoor Championships with a mission to surpass the world 200m best of 21.94.

“The record will be my priority over the next couple of months and I’ll have a couple of chances at it,” said Scott. “I ran 22.21 in Manchester and I probably would have run quicker but for my blocks slipping and flying back.

“Sportcity is not renowned for being a very quick track but Sheffield is quick and I think I am in shape to get very close if not beat the record.”

Scott has never got to the root of the injury to his left foot, which put his career on hold.

“I got told it might be a stress fracture but it wasn’t that and then they said it was down to old age. I had two MRI scans but they never picked anything up.

“It was so bad I couldn’t put my weight on it. I ran the Sale Open indoors over 60m and 200m on January 4 last year and one outdoor run later in the year and that was it.

“I didn’t do the World Outdoor Masters Championship in Finland in July which was a big disappointment.”

A personal trainer at Fitness First in Trident Park, Scott in 2008 completed a Grand Slam of veterans titles at world and European level and was part of Great Britain’s world record-breaking Masters 35 relay team. He is coached by Morris Condon – father of Runcorn’s former international sprinter Allyn, who now competes for Great Britain in bobsleigh.