The Brit surprised the world 40 years in the past by breaking the marathon world report on the 1984 Chicago Marathon
It’s 40 years in the past as we speak, on October 21, 1984, Steve Jones made historical past by successful the Chicago Marathon in 2:08:05 – his first-ever accomplished marathon. In doing so, the Welshman broke the world report.
The race was initially anticipated to be a showdown between two marathon greats: Olympic champion Carlos Lopes and reigning world champion Robert de Castella. Nonetheless, it was Jones, a RAF mechanic, who stole the highlight.
The 29-year-old on the time broke de Castella’s world report of two:08:18, set in Fukuoka, Japan, by 13 seconds.
What made Jones’ feat much more spectacular was his lack of information that he was on record-breaking tempo. In contrast to as we speak’s runners, who normally depend on watches, Jones ran with no watch. He solely discovered he was on observe for a world report with two miles remaining within the race.
The 2-time Olympian had tried his marathon debut a 12 months earlier on the 1983 Chicago Marathon however was compelled to withdraw at 17.5 miles as a consequence of an ankle damage.
His world report stood till April 1985, when Carlos Lopes set a brand new mark of two:07:12 on the Rotterdam Marathon.
Regardless of dropping the report, Jones remained a dominant pressure in marathon working. In the identical 12 months Lopes set a brand new report, Jones received the London Marathon in 2:08:16, regardless of making a cease for the bathroom mid-race.
Steve Jones (Getty)
Later in 1985, Jones returned to Chicago and ran 2:07:13 – only one second shy of Lopes’ world report.
Though he missed out on the report, this time set a brand new British report, which stood for a formidable 33 years. It wasn’t till 2018 that Mo Farah lastly broke it, clocking 2:05:11, additionally in Chicago.
In 1988, he set a course report of two:08:20 to win the New York Metropolis Marathon. The 12 months prior, he completed second on the Boston Marathon.
In whole, Jones competed in 18 marathons, successful 5 main titles: Chicago in 1984 and 1985, London in 1985, New York in 1988, and Toronto in 1992.
To have fun the forty-year anniversary, you’ll find our authentic protection from Steve Jones’ world report by way of the Athletics Weekly archive.
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