John Charles Foster (23 May 1932 – 5 June 2004) was a long-distance runner born in Liverpool, England. At first a cyclist, who didn't start running until he was 32, he represented New Zealand in the men's marathon at two Summer Olympics at Munich, West Germany (1972) and Montreal, Canada (1976). He made the team for the 1975 International Cross Country Championships, where his country took the title. A resident of Rotorua, he won the silver medal in the marathon at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch with a master's world record time of 2:11:18.6 at the age of 41. Two years earlier, he had set a world record for 20 miles at 1:39:14.
Foster is featured in the New Zealand short film "On the Run" about Arthur Lydiard influenced athletes. In the final scene, Foster shows the highlight of his training is a 3,000 foot run down a 45 degree scree hill.
He was killed while riding his bicycle in Rotorua.
Achievements Representing 1970Commonwealth GamesEdinburgh, Scotland4thMarathon2:14:44Fukuoka MarathonFukuoka, Japan4thMarathon2:12:17.81971Fukuoka MarathonFukuoka, Japan 3rdMarathon2:13:42.41972Olympic Games Munich, Germany8thMarathon2:16:561973Kyoto MarathonKyoto, Japan 1stMarathon2:14:53.41974Commonwealth GamesChristchurch, New Zealand 2ndMarathon2:11:18.6 PR1975Honolulu Marathon Honolulu, Hawaii 1stMarathon2:17:241976Auckland MarathonAuckland, New Zealand 1stMarathon2:16:27Olympic GamesMontréal, Canada17thMarathon2:17:531978New York City MarathonNew York City, United States6thMarathon2:17:28
Personal bests DistanceTimePlaceDate25000 m1:16:29 NR Hamilton197130000 m1:32:19 NR Hamilton1971Marathon2:11.18.6Christchurch1974
References
External links New Zealand Olympic Committee