Story: Veterans and masters sport

Jack Foster, the 'ancient marathoner'

Jack Foster, the 'ancient marathoner'

Jack Foster, the self-titled 'ancient marathoner' (centre), was a record-setter in long-distance running. Foster, who emigrated to New Zealand from England at the age of 24, did not take up running until he was 32. He represented New Zealand in the marathon at the Munich Olympics in 1972, aged 40, and at the Montreal Olympics in 1976, when he was 44. In January 1974 he competed in the International Veterans Pre-Commonwealth Games Meeting at Christchurch, setting a world over-40s record for the 10,000 metres. Six days later he won a silver medal in the marathon at the Commonwealth Games, setting a New Zealand record in the process. In 1975 Foster was a member of the New Zealand team that won the world team cross-country title.

Using this item

New Zealand Masters Athletics
Reference: Merle Grayburn, and Arthur Grayburn (eds), A history of New Zealand veteran athletics, 1962–-1999. Christchurch: New Zealand Association of Veteran Athletics, 1999, p. 40.

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Roger Robinson, 'Veterans and masters sport - Masters competitions and ‘Golden Oldies’', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/37829/jack-foster-the-ancient-marathoner (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Roger Robinson, published 5 Sep 2013