Otley’s Caroline Marler described her 800 metres World Athletics Masters gold in Porto Alegre, Brazil, as “unexpected but very pleasing” after finishing in 2min 47.41sec.

She said: “This was my best run since last summer, when I managed a 3.03 in a windy Grimsby.

“I stayed in second place after the break and covered 400 metres in a sensible 81 seconds, which meant I felt okay down the back straight.

"I stayed behind the leader, an American, and ran in the second lane to make it harder for the Australian, who was just behind, to get past.

“At 200 metres out, I decided to go for it as felt okay and didn't want to leave it later as the Australian is a 200m-400m runner.

"I got well ahead and, although she caught up a bit, I won by a good margin.”