BOLTON Harriers marathon runner Tony Duffy is proving age is no barrier, despite reaching his half-century.

He stepped up his comeback from two years of injury and illness by dominating his age category over the shorter distances.

Duffy, who joined the over-50s' ranks last month, is improving with every race and has enjoyed a hat-trick of wins in the Sale Sizzler 5k road series.

The Bolton veteran clocked a series best time of 16 minutes and 18 seconds, which places him fourth in the UK over-50 rankings. He then went to the top of the track rankings when he finished the 3000m in 9.29 at the Trafford AC Open.

Duffy is now hoping to challenge for a place in the UK all-time top 10 over-50s at the Cardiff marathon in October, which would require a time of two hours and 32 minutes. The 1999 London marathon veterans title winner has a life-time best of 2.17, set in Liverpool in 1990.