Quick Facts
Biography
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.
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.
He was killed while out riding his bicycle in Rotorua.
Achievements
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing  New Zealand | |||||
| 1972 | Olympic Games | Munich | 8th | Marathon | 2:16:56 |
| 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 |