Past Champions and Changing Times
Past Champions and Changing Times (Published by Brian Lenton, 2025)
Contributions by Brian Lenton, Len Johnson, John Gilbert and Anne Lord
A4 format. 212 pages. 170+ photographs.
Distance running has been part of Australia’s sporting fabric since the first modern Olympics in 1896. Fifty quiet years followed Edwin Flack’s middle-distance dominance in Athens, then a resurgence saw Australians at the top of the world scene for two decades. Performances and personalities from those and later decades are highlighted in the first half of this book. Seven Australians and three overseas runners are featured — champions over middle- and long-distances. Changes during recent decades have been profound. Many of these are examined and analysed.
A potted history of Australian distance running since the 1950s follows, documenting the place of leading Australians on the world stage and shining a light on the careers of many excellent runners who have never received the attention they deserve. Over 300 national representatives are identified and many are profiled.
Australia’s current and emerging cohort of distance runners are celebrated towards the end of the book . The authors find many reasons for optimism.
The book is dedicated to the memory of Ron Clarke.
$500 donation from book sales to Lifeline Canberra
Postage costs for one book:
- for ACT and all Australian states: $17 (total cost $57)
- for US $44 (total cost $84)
- for UK $50 (total cost $90)
Postage costs for two books:
- for ACT and all Australian states: $22 (total cost $102)
Please note that The Runners Shop Canberra may need to contact you to organise final postage costs for book(s) purchased.
