John Davies

Born 1938 Essex, died 21 July 2003. Olympian 168

John Davies came to New Zealand in 1953, attended Otago Boys’ High School and then shifted to Tokoroa in his late teens.

He had a natural affinity for running from an early age and in 1956 set School records over 880 yards and the mile and was third in the national junior 880 yards. His foray into the senior ranks saw him finish third in the 1960 New Zealand 880 yards in Invercargill behind winner Peter Snell who recorded 1:53.9 and Gerry Hack. A year later in Hamilton he was third again behind Gary Philpott and Hack.

By 1962 Davies was evolving into an international class runner reducing his mile time to 4:02.5. He also embarked on taking out a mortgage on the New Zealand mile title winning it in 1962 and then for the next four years.

Davies was selected for the 880 yards and the mile at the 1962 Perth British Empire and Commonwealth Games. He was fourth in his heat of the 880 yards and fourth in the ...