| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 23 May 1932 Liverpool, England | ||||||||||||||
| Died | 5 June 2004 (aged 72) Rotorua, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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John Charles Foster (23 May 1932 – 5 June 2004) was a long-distance runner born in Liverpool, England. At first a cyclist, who didn't start running until he was 32,[1] he represented New Zealand in the men's marathon at two Summer Olympics at Munich, West Germany (1972) and Montreal, Canada (1976). He made the team for the 1975 International Cross Country Championships, where his country took the title.[1] 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 2:11:18.6 at the age of 41. Two years earlier, he had set a world record for 20 miles at 1:39:14.[2]
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.[3]
He was killed while riding his bicycle in Rotorua.[1]
Achievements
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing  New Zealand | |||||
| 1970 | Commonwealth Games | Edinburgh, Scotland | 4th | Marathon | 2:14:44 |
| Fukuoka Marathon | Fukuoka, Japan | 4th | Marathon | 2:12:17.8 | |
| 1971 | Fukuoka Marathon | Fukuoka, Japan | 3rd | Marathon | 2:13:42.4 |
| 1972 | Olympic Games | Munich, Germany | 8th | Marathon | 2:16:56[4] |
| 1973 | Kyoto Marathon | Kyoto, Japan | 1st | Marathon | 2:14:53.4 |
| 1974 | Commonwealth Games | Christchurch, New Zealand | 2nd | Marathon | 2:11:18.6 PR |
| 1975 | Honolulu Marathon | Honolulu, Hawaii | 1st | Marathon | 2:17:24 |
| 1976 | Auckland Marathon | Auckland, New Zealand | 1st | Marathon | 2:16:27 |
| Olympic Games | Montréal, Canada | 17th | Marathon | 2:17:53 | |
| 1978 | New York City Marathon | New York City, United States | 6th | Marathon | 2:17:28 |
Personal bests
| Distance | Time | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25000 m | 1:16:29 NR | Hamilton | 1971 |
| 30000 m | 1:32:19 NR | Hamilton | 1971 |
| Marathon | 2:11.18.6 | Christchurch | 1974 |
References
- 1 2 3 Phil Taylor (11 June 2004). "Obituary: Jack Foster". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- ↑ Robinson, Roger (September 2004). "Jack Foster: 1932-2004". Running Times Magazine.
- ↑ "On the Run | Short Film". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
- ↑ David E. Martin, Roger W. H. Gynn (2000). The Olympic marathon. Human Kinetics. p. 477. ISBN 978-0-88011-969-6.
Foster Munich marathon.
External links