Arthur Patrick KEILY

Arthur Keily held several odd jobs in his youth, but his primary interest was sport. He was successful for many years as a member of his local football side, the Osmaston Rangers, but his career was interrupted by World War II. Upon his return he was placed on the reserve list of the team and was never again able to take the field. Disillusioned with football, he turned to track and field athletics under the advice of his brother and took a particular interest in long-distance running. He joined the Derby and County Athletic Club in 1949 and ran his first marathon in 1953. Within a year he had achieved the first of many victories in the discipline, but he still failed to make the Olympic delegation to the 1956 Summer Games. Nonetheless he made his major international debut at that year’s Košice Peace Marathon, finishing 12th, and improved to 6th the following year. His next stop was the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, competing for England, but he fell ill before the race and finished in 12th. He finally made the Olympic team in 1960, but only managed 25th out of 69 competitors. He retired from active competition following the Games, but later returned to the sport as a masters’ level athlete.

Personal Best: Mar – 2-19:06 (1960).