Jack Holden (runner)

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Holden at distance

John Thomas ("Jack") Holden (born March 13, 1907 – died March 7, 2004) was a long-distance runner from England, who won four consecutive national titles in the men's marathon (1947 to 1950). He represented Great Britain at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he finished the men's marathon in 36th place.

Born in Bilston, Holden made his name in the 1930s. He won the AAA six miles in 1933, 1934 and 1935 and the AAA 10 miles in 1934. He also won the "National" in 1938, 1939 and 1946. Like many sportspeople of the period his career was interrupted by the Second World War.

Despite the long break in official competition between 1940 and 1945 Holden appears to have continued where he left off in the 1930s. Besides winning the AAA Marathon title four years in succession, in 1950, at the age of 43, he won the European and 1950 British Empire Games Marathon titles. In all he won 57 major titles during his career. He died just a couple of days before his 97th birthday.

Reference

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