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Speedy 85-year-old Canadian Ed Whitlock breaks 5,000m world record

Ed Whitlock, an 85-year-old living in Milton, Ont., set a 5,000m world record in the men's 85 to 89 category on Saturday at Varsity Stadium in Toronto.

Ed Whitlock
Ed Whitlock
Ed Whitlock (left) during the men’s 1,500m on Saturday. Photo: John MacMillan..

Ageless speedster Ed Whitlock added another world record to his already impressive collection of running times on Saturday. The 85-year-old Milton, Ont. resident broke the men’s 85 to 89 world record in the 5,000m at the Ontario masters outdoor championships in Toronto at Varsity Stadium.

RELATED: Watch Canadian Running‘s video of Ed Whitlock setting a world record from earlier this summer.

Whitlock, who owns dozens of age group world records from the 1,500m up to the marathon, ran 24:03.99 lowering the previous mark by almost 50 seconds. Italy’s Luciano Acquarone ran 24:51.33 in 2015. The Canadian now owns the 5,000m world record for the 75 to 79, 80 to 84 and now 85 to 89 age categories.

Just hours after running the 5,000m record on Saturday morning, Whitlock nearly broke another record in the men’s 1,500m. His time of 6:51.86 was less than one second off the world best (6:51.32). His 5,000m run was at 10 a.m. on Saturday and his 1,500m was at 1:30 p.m.

RELATED: Man and his charming, tail-wagging running partner set new world record.

Saturday’s time is Whitlock’s second world record in as many months. In early June, Whitlock set a new men’s 85 to 89 record in the mile in Cambridge, Ont. In April, the English-born runner ran a world record in the half-marathon. Among his accomplishments is being the first person to have run under three hours for the marathon after turning 70.

Whitlock was big into running in his teenage years but did not run competitively again until his forties. He was born in London and moved to Canada following college graduation. He wears a Ranelagh singlet for many of his races. The name is short for the Ranelagh Harriers, a running club based in southwest London.

RELATED: Hooters throws 82-year-old beer miler a surprise birthday party.

The Ontario masters outdoor championships were held from Saturday to Sunday at the University of Toronto. The meet was open to athletes aged 30 and older. The Canadian masters outdoor championships are being held at York University beginning Aug. 12.

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