RICHMOND long-distance runner Heather Lee was on track to beat the 10-kilometre world record time for her age group on Sunday when she became ill.
Lee, 88, was trying to beat Canadian woman Ivy Granstorm’s 1998 time of 86 minutes and 55 seconds.
Lee said she was just under world-record time, and two-and-a-half minutes under the Australian record time, when she "began to heave".
Lee, who was running at a master's event at the Gold Coast, said it felt like she was going to throw up, and was unsure what caused the problem.
She said when she reached the five-kilometre mark she informed the timekeepers she wanted to withdraw.
She said when she began to feel ill she decided to err on the side of caution and withdrew, and felt fine after the race.
Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of the Hawkesbury Gazette.