World's fastest marathon runner

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32005, 4 June 1969, Page 11

World's fastest marathon runner

yVHEN the Australian distance runner, Derek Clayton, recorded 2hr 9min 36.45ec for the full marathon distance of 26 miles 385 yards in the Japanese open at the end of 1967, it was regarded by many as an isolated performance. His subsequent failure to win a medal in the Mexico Olympic marathon only served to support this opinion.. But last Friday Clayton, now only 25, wiped away all doubts about his ability when he covered the marathon distance in Belgium in the world's fastest time of 2hr Bmin 33.65ec. His run through the streets of Antwerp was one of the great classics of road running. His toughest opposition came from the Japanese runner, Ako Usami, whose time for second place of 2hr 11 min 27.8 sec was also outstanding. Less than two years ago this would have been the world’s fastest for the distance—evidence of the great progress being made' in long distance running. For Clayton, the future seems bright He no doubt has his heart set on winning an Olympic gold medal but if he did not run another face he would never be forgotten as the first man to break 2hr 12min. Now he has run even faster and one cannot help but wonder where the limits of human endurance lie. Is it possible to run the marathon in less than 2hr? Recent developments suggest that it is. Whether Clayton is the man to do it is doubtful. This might have to be left to a runner of a later generation. The Australian has often said that he was more interested in long distance track racing than in marathon running and had be succeeded at Mexico it is almost certain that he would have turned to the

track. Now it is obvious that it is as a marathon runner that he has the best chance of winning the greatest prize in the sports—an Olympic gold medal. A draughtsman, Clayton lives in Melbourne but he was bom in Lancashire, England, and spent most of his life in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He emigrated to Australia with his family in 1963. In those days his greatest interest was soccer. His biggest desire as a youth was to play for Manchester United. It was only when he finally realised that he did not have the ability to reach the top in soccer that he turned to athletics.