Jack T. PRICE

Jack Price started out as a walker, but went on to become one of Britain’s best Marathon runners, and one of its great characters. At the age of 17, he walked the 21 miles (34 km) from his Shropshire home to Halesowen, in the hope of finding work, which he did. His first victory as a competitive walker was in 1904, when he won the Halesowen to Kidderminster, and back, race. Price was later one of the men responsible for founding the Halesowen Athletic Club in 1922, and also discovered and coached the 1924 Olympian Eddie Webster. Price was a member of the winning England team at the International Cross-country Championships in both 1906 and 1909, with a best individual finish of sixth in the first of those years.

It was in the Marathon at the 1908 Olympics that Price nearly carved his name into Olympic history. He qualified for the race as the winner of the Midland Olympic Marathon Trial and, at the Games, led for more than half the race, before pulling out after 14 miles, giving in to the heat and fast pace.

Shortly after winning his second International Cross-country title, Price turned professional, and in 1910 won the coveted Powderhall Marathon on his début. That same year, he set a world professional record for 15 miles. Price’s athletic career effectively came to an end with the outbreak of World War I. He served with the Royal Garrison Artillery (1915-19) and saw action in France and Flanders. While awaiting demobilisation, he represented his unit in the 1919 Polytechnic Marathon, which was to be his last race over the distance. He finished sixth. Price was still actively involved in athletics until shortly before his death at the age of 81.

Personal Best: Mar – 2-40:08 (1910).