Coogan's gold run

TAKING THE BATON . . . Mike Coogan sets off in the 4x200m sprint relay

FAILSWORTH athlete Mike Coogan has returned from the World Masters Indoor Championships in Daegu, South Korea, with a dream gold medal and one silver medal.

Coogan, who is already a European champion, won gold in the 4x200m sprint relay at the championships in the over-40 age category.

He was on the final anchor leg, as Team GB beat the USA, France, Japan and Australia, among others.

Coogan won his silver medal in the individual 400m, finishing just behind Antwon Dussett of the USA.

Nigel John of Canada finished in third place.

East Cheshire Harrier Coogan's heroics were quite phenomenal.

There were 76 countries represented at the showpiece event, and with 4,800 athletes competing and it was the largest World Championships ever held.

They are staged every two years.

This was Coogan's final championship event at vet-40, as he turns 45 in the summer.

He was the oldest in the vet-40 age category in Daegu.

Coogan said: "Overall it was a good indoor season for me.

"I finished ranked number one in the world in both 200m and 400m for my age - 44 and over.

"At this moment I'm only half a second outside each of the vet-45 world records for 400m and 200m, but I'm getting quicker as I only took up sprinting three years ago."