Athlete breaks long-standing run record

Bunbury athlete Noah McAneny has run his way into the record books after smashing a 33-year-old record.

The 14-year-old ran the 1500m race two seconds quicker than Bunbury and Districts Little Athletics’ 1984 record of 4.34.30.

McAneny claimed the record at the club’s season opener on October 14.

McAneny said he had set himself a goal to beat the record during the season and already achieving it had given him a massive confidence boost.

“I wanted to beat it, but doing it in the first week back was a pretty good feeling,” McAneny said.

“It gives me a lot of confidence for States coming up and made me see my potential.”

McAneny will compete at WA All Schools Championships this weekend and is aiming to make it to Worlds tournaments in the near future.

Former 1500m record holder, Mick Darlington – who now lives in Dalyellup – presented McAneny with a certificate on Saturday.

“I’m glad they tracked me down, this is a really good thing,” Mr Darlington said.

He said while he did not quite remember setting the record, he did recall his time competing in athletics in Bunbury.

“We ran on grass back then ... we had some good numbers and I had to chase the big guys, that’s how I was so quick,” he said.