Josef LATASTER

The best Dutch distance runner in the post-War years along with Wim Slijkhuis, Jef Lataster's greatest international victory came in 1947. At the British AAA Championships in London, he won the 3 mile race (4,812 m). Lataster would not fare so well at the 1948 Olympics. In the 10,000 m, he was lapped twice by eventual winner Emil Zátopek and then finished a lap too soon due a lap counter error. Lataster was not officially disqualified, however. In the 5,000 m, Lataster was eliminated in the heats. Also a good cross country runner, he twice represented the Netherlands at the International Cross Country Championships (the forerunner of the World Championships), but placed 30th (1950) and 50th (1951). In total, Lataster won 11 Dutch Championships: 5,000m (1947), 10,000 m (1948-52), short cross (1949-50) and long cross (1950-51, 1954). He also lowered the Dutch 10,000 record on three occasions.

Personal Bests: 5000 – 14:59.4 (1949); 10000 – 31:30.8 (1948).