Patty Blanchard wins gold, breaks Canadian W60 record in 800m at World Masters

Patty Blanchard, 60, of Dieppe, N. B., won a gold medal in the W60 800m at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Malaga, Spain today, breaking her own Canadian age group record with a time of 2:38.22. (According to Athletics New Brunswick, Blanchard set a new record of 2:39.97 for both New Brunswick and Canada at the Atlantic Championships in July.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnlgW5qnOlF/?taken-by=torontotrackuttcmasters

RELATED: Two New Brunswickers break age-group mile records

Blanchard has set numerous records since turning 60 last fall. She will compete in the 5,000m tomorrow and the 1,500m on Saturday.

In other World Masters news, Olympian Courtney Babcock won gold in the 800m for women 45-49. 

??’s medal count at World Masters Championships up to 21. Carol LaFayette-Boyd leads the way with 5 ? medals. In this ? Courtney Babcock dips at the line to win W45 800m gold https://t.co/kroLoNHo6P pic.twitter.com/emYbH6ppoA

— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) September 12, 2018

Alice Cole won silver in the 800m for women aged 85-89. Cole holds the Canadian record for women 75-79 and 80-85.

Earl Fee won silver in the 800m for men 85-89. Fee holds five age group records in the 800m.

Carol Lafayette-Boyd has won five gold medals in Malaga, in the W75 100m and 200m as well as three for field events (jumping).

Update September 12: Canada’s current medal standings are 14 gold, four silver, and three bronze.

Patty Blanchard has won another gold, this time in the W60 5,000m, with a time of 20:29.