Cross-country is a grass roots discipline. True – given that almost every kid around the world has been introduced to the sport via their primary school’s sports day. And if that’s not grass roots, I don’t know what is. It’s also true in the physical sense, because cross-country is conducted...
We are drawing ever closer to Tokyo25. The qualifying window closes on Sunday 24 August. The Diamond League final in Zurich some days later will determine which athletes get a wild card invite into the championships (spoiler: if you’re in the final you probably have no need of a...
Let’s go back, let’s go way, way, way back to the days before rock ‘n’ roll. No, sorry, that was a few weeks ago when your columnist referenced Van Morrison and his song/poem On Hyndford St on another matter. Let’s stick to the recent past this time. Just last year...
Talk about come in from the cold. This week, Wednesday 30 July, the Parliament gave a belated welcome home for the Moscow 1980 Australian Olympic team. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gave the welcome. Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley concurred (not without demur; see later). ‘Albo’ did not name check...
Can it really be sixty years since 1965. Six decades on from a year which shook up distance running like few others. Three men from three continents, running largely the same events, often against each other, all ranked in the world’s top 10 athletes of that year. Australia’s Ron Clarke,...
A column by Len Johnson From the time I started following Australian athletics seriously – lost in the mists of time, but probably the 1970s – there’s been one constant helping my research: Paul Jenes and his Australian lists. Jenesy, as he’s so known to such a wide extent that it’s...
So, what’s the deal with the 1500 metres then? Specifically, the men’s 1500 metres. And let’s not forget the mile - if it ever went away. I thought I caught a glimpse of it in Oslo and Eugene recently – so, bring back the mile, at least into this...
Written by Len Johnson “Take me back. Take me way, way, way back,” Van Morrison intones in the opening lines of On Hyndford Street, the poem/song reminiscing on his musical influences growing up in Belfast. Morrison’s timeline goes back to the 1950s, “the days before rock ‘n’ roll.” This happens to...
Well, that was quite the boilover, wasn’t it? Faith Kipyegon, the best female 1500 metres/miler ever – the best ever full stop, if we go by her unmatched three Olympic gold medals in a row, backed by all the considerable expertise Nike can bring, makes an attack on the four-minute...
John Farrington, distance runner, 2 July 1944 to 15 June 2025 Followers of Australian distance running would have few problems naming the highest achievers in the men’s marathon. World champion Rob de Castella. World record holder Derek Clayton. Commonwealth Games champion Steve Moneghetti. Some may add contemporary national record breakers...
