Jack Foster (athlete)

Jack Foster

Personal information
Born	23 May 1932 Liverpool, England
Died	5 June 2004 (aged 72) Rotorua, New Zealand
Medal record Men's Athletics Representing  New Zealand Commonwealth Games 1974 Christchurch Marathon

John Charles "Jack" 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

Distance	Time	Place	Date
25000 m	1:16:29 NR	Hamilton	1971
30000 m	1:32:19 NR	Hamilton	1971
Marathon	2:11.19	Christchurch	1974

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.

External links

• New Zealand Olympic Committee