Jack Foster (athlete)

Jack Foster
Personal information
Born (1932-05-23)23 May 1932
Liverpool, England
Died 5 June 2004(2004-06-05) (aged 72)
Rotorua, New Zealand

John Charles Foster (23 May 1932 – 5 June 2004) was a long-distance runner born in Liverpool, England. He represented New Zealand in the men's marathon at two Summer Olympics of Munich, West Germany (1972) and Montreal, Canada (1976). A resident of Rotorua, he won the silver medal in the marathon at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch with a master's world record time of 2:11:19 at the age of 41. Two years earlier, he had set a world record for 20 miles at 1:39:14.[1]

Foster is featured in the New Zealand short film "On the Run" about Arthur Lydiard influenced athletes. In the final scene, Foster shows the highlight of his training is a 3,000 foot run down a 45 degree scree hill.[2]

He was killed while out riding his bicycle in Rotorua.[3]

Achievements

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  New Zealand
1972 Olympic Games Munich 8th Marathon 2:16:56[4]
1975 Honolulu Marathon Honolulu, Hawaii 1st Marathon 2:17:24
1976 Olympic Games Montréal, Canada 17th Marathon 2:17:53

Personal bests

DistanceTimePlaceDate
25000 m1:16:29 NRHamilton1971
30000 m1:32:19 NRHamilton1971
Marathon2:11.19Christchurch1974

References

  1. Robinson, Roger (September 2004). "Jack Foster: 1932-2004". Running Times Magazine.
  2. "On the Run | Short Film". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  3. Phil Taylor (11 June 2004). "Obituary: Jack Foster". NZ Herald. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  4. David E. Martin, Roger W. H. Gynn (2000). The Olympic marathon. p. 477. ISBN 978-0-88011-969-6.
Awards
Preceded by
Rod Dixon
Lonsdale Cup of the New Zealand Olympic Committee
1973
Succeeded by
Dick Tayler


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