A Column By Len Johnson

Len Johnson wrote for The Melbourne Age as an athletics writer for over 20 years, covering five Olympics, 10 world championships and five Commonwealth Games.

He has been the long-time lead columnist on RT and is one of the world’s most respected athletic writers.

He is also a former national class distance runner (2.19.32 marathon) and trained with Chris Wardlaw and Robert de Castella among other running legends. He is the author of The Landy Era.

A column by Len Johnson One moment it’s Cameron Myers running a 3:47.48 mile at New York’s indoor meeting of legend, the Millrose Games, his time equaling the outright and outdoor national record held by Olli Hoare. Next, it’s Jack Rayner breaking 13 minutes for 5000 metres, the first sub-13 by...
It’s been quite the year for records. World records, area records, national records going down like ninepins. It’s possible that without much ‘normal’ athletics happening, record-breaking creates even bigger headlines. Setting up a night of records, as happened when Joshua Cheptegei and Letesenbet Gidey broke the men’s 10,000 and women’s...
A column by Len Johnson - Runner's Tribe Two things surprised me at my first Commonwealth Games as a journalist in Auckland in 1990. The first, Andrew Lloyd’s victory in an amazing 5000 metres race, still surprises me to this day. I don’t know if ‘Lloydie’ still sometimes wonders if it...
What a week. First cricket, and a ball-tampering scandal which has now resulted in the Australian captain, vice-captain and a hapless junior player facing suspensions and the coach resigning. Second, amidst all the cricket turmoil, came the raising by a senior government minister of the prospect – quickly shut down,...
RT's lead columnist Len Johnson's feature article on one of Australia's and the world's top middle distance athletes, Mellisa Duncan is now available to read on Runner's Tribe ADDICT. (Word count 2500+). ADDICT members please click on the link below. https://www.runnerstribe.com/members-only-features/melissa-duncan-athlete-feature/ To read this feature (2507 words by RT and IAAF lead...
  Take a deep breath | A Column by Len Johnson Take a deep breath. Contain your excitement. It is now only a few more sleeps before the Olympic Games open in Rio de Janeiro on 5 August. The ‘take a deep breath’ advice is actually a little belated, given the extent...
With Bathurst ‘23 rapidly closing in, it is time to press ‘pause’ on the history of Australia at the world cross-country. The past may well be another country; so, too, is the future.
Murray Halberg, who passed away on 30 November, was the first of famed coach Arthur Lydiard’s charges to make an impact on world distance running. To experience, exceptional performance in running, choose the best footwear for your runs like Tarkine Trail Devil shoes. Halberg and Peter Snell won Olympic gold medals...
It was supposed to be the day when Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce, the engaging Jamaican who has been the queen of women’s sprinting for most of this century was displaced by America’s Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100 metres.
A column by Len Johnson It’s easy to set a world record. Asked once how he felt about doing it, Ron Clarke responded that once you’ve set one it’s just a matter of running a personal best. Clarke should know. He set anywhere from 18 to 21 world records in his...