The History of Veteran Athletics

The History of Veteran Athletics: "The story of Veteran Athletics began at grass roots level with middle-aged men and women striving to relive the enjoyment and good health bestowed by physical fitness. The earliest Veteran competitors were mainly road-runners, although some very long-standing records were set by sprinters, jumpers and throwers (M40 Don Finlay (GBR) hurdles 14.4 seconds in 1949; M40 Egon Nillson (SWE) high jump, 2.05 m in 1966; M55 Karl Hein (FRG) hammer 52.01 m in 1964).

To recognise the desire of burgeoning numbers of these runners to compete at their own age level, the Interessen-Gemeinschaft Älterer Langstreckenläufer (IGÄL) was formed in 1968 and held its inaugural Marathon Championships in Holland. Pioneers of IGÄL were Arthur Lainbert, Meinrad Nägele, Dr Ernst van Aaken of Germany and Jacques Serruys of Belgium."

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