Jack Foster (athlete)

Jack Foster (1932-2004) was a New Zealand long-distance runner, notable for his achievements in marathon running later in life. Born in Liverpool, England, Foster emigrated to New Zealand in 1961. He began serious running relatively late, taking up marathon training in his 40s.

Foster is best known for winning a silver medal in the marathon at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games at the age of 41. His time of 2:11:18 was a New Zealand national record at the time.

Prior to the Commonwealth Games, Foster represented New Zealand at the 1972 Munich Olympics, finishing eighth in the marathon with a time of 2:16:53. He also competed in the 10,000 meters, finishing 15th.

Throughout his career, Foster achieved several impressive marathon times, often placing highly in international races. He wrote a book about his training philosophy and experiences, titled "Jack Foster's Guide to Running." He continued to compete in masters athletics events after retiring from elite competition. His late start and continued success made him an inspiration to many older athletes.