Canadian, 72, first his age to run sub-three hour marathon

A 72-year-old Canadian man has become the first person over 70 to run a marathon in under three hours.

Ed Whitlock finished the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in two hours, 59 minutes and 10 seconds.

His participation in the event had been in doubt following a fall while out walking a few days before, reports the Toronto Star.

But Mr Whitlock was determined to run the race. He said of his performance: "It's a kind of cheap version of Roger Bannister's four-minute mile. I feel pretty awful right now."

He said he's no intention of quitting athletics. "I hope to keep going. I think old people can do more than old people and young people give them credit for."

Meanwhile, 92-year-old Fauja Singh, from Ilford, UK, became the first 90-plus runner to beat the six-hour mark. He clocked five hours, 40 minutes and 4 seconds. It beat his own record of 6 hours, 11 minutes set in the Flora London marathon in April