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On 7th July 1982 at the famous Bislett Stadium in Oslo, Norway, David
Moorcroft ran the race of his life carving almost six seconds off Henry
Rono's World 5000m. record. Leading after only two laps in a superb solo
run, without any of the customary pacemakers, the Coventry Godiva
Harrier lowered the record to a magnificent, but very frustrating,
13min 00.41sec. By less than half a second he failed to become the
first man to break the 13min. barrier for the distance (Said Aouita took
that honour 5 years later). For an athlete who has contributed so much
to athletics he could be forgiven for feeling a little deprived. Injury
had robbed him of his place in the 1980 Olympic 1500m. final (he was the
Commonwealth 1500m. champion at the time) and illness was to keep him
off the track throughout 1983. As the World record holder and
Commonwealth Games 5000m. champion (a title he won at Brisbane in 1982)
the inaugural 1983 World Championships could perhaps have been his
finest hour.
He also suffered injury during the 1984 Olympic 5000m.
final but, in what perhaps he suspected was his "farewell" competition,
finished the race, albeit well behind the rest of the field - he was
then 31yrs. old. His other outstanding year, apart from 1982 when he
also took the bronze medal in the European 5,000m. (photo above)
in 13min. 30.42sec. was four years earlier, in 1978, when he won the
Commonwealth Games 1500m. final in Edmonton in 3min. 35.5sec. from
World record holder Filbert Bayi (3min. 35.6sec.). That peformance put
him at the top of the UK rankings, one ahead of 1978 European Champion
Steve Ovett. David finished third in the European championships (3min.
36.7sec.) behind Ovett (3min. 35.6sec.) and Irishman Eamonn Coghlan
(3min. 36.6sec.). (GH)
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Dave Moorcroft is pictured above in his Coventry Godiva vest at Crystal Palace on 24th June 1978
winning the AAA's Championship. Photo George Herringshaw. ©
Championship Record 1976 - 1982 over 1500m and 5000m.
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|
Men's 1500m. Final
Olympic Games 1976
|
| 1. John WALKER |
|
NZL |
|
3: 39.17 |
| 2. Ivo van DAMME |
|
BEL |
|
3: 39.27 |
| 3. Paul-Heinz WELLMANN |
|
GER |
|
3: 39.33 |
| 4. Eamonn COGHLAN |
|
IRL |
|
3: 39.51 |
| 5. Frank CLEMENT |
|
GBR |
|
3: 39.65 |
| 6. Richard WOHLHUTER |
|
USA |
|
3: 40.64 |
| 7. Dave MOORCROFT |
|
GBR |
|
3: 40.94 |
| 8. Graham CROUCH |
|
AUS |
|
3: 41.80 |
|
|
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Men's 1500m. Final.
Commonwealth Games 1978
|
| 1. Dave MOORCROFT |
|
ENG |
|
3.35.5 |
| 2. Filbert BAYI |
|
TAN |
|
3.35.6 |
| 3. John ROBSON |
|
SCO |
|
3.35.6 |
| 4. Frank CLEMENT |
|
SCO |
|
3.35.7 |
| 5. Wilson WAIGA |
|
KEN |
|
3.37.5 |
| 6. Glen GRANT |
|
WAL |
|
3.38.1 |
| 7. Richard TUWEI |
|
KEN |
|
3.40.5 |
| 8. Rod DIXON |
|
NZL |
|
3.41.3 |
|
|
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Men's 5000m. Final.
Commonwealth Games 1982
|
| 1. Dave MOORCROFT |
|
ENG |
|
13.33.00 |
| 2. Nick ROSE |
|
ENG |
|
13.37.97 |
| 3. Peter KOECH |
|
KEN |
|
13.36.95 |
|
|
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Men's 5000m. Final.
European Athletics Championships 1982
|
| 1. Thomas WESSINGHAGE |
|
FRG |
|
13.28.90 |
| 2. Werner SCHILDHAUER |
|
GDR |
|
13.30.03 |
| 3. David MOORCROFT |
|
GBR |
|
13.30.42 |
| 4. Yevgeny IGNATOV |
|
BUL |
|
13.30.95 |
| 5. Dietmar MILLONIG |
|
AUT |
|
13.31.03 |
| 6. Valeri ABRAMOV |
|
URS |
|
13.31.26 |
PERSONAL BEST TIMES.
800 Metres 1:46.64 London (Crystal Palace) 25 JUL 1982
1500 Metres 3:33.79 Hengelo 27 JUL 1982
One Mile 3:49.34 Oslo 26 JUN 1982
3000 Metres 7:32.79 London (Crystal Palace) 17 JUL 1982
5000 Metres 13:00.41 Oslo 07 JUL 1982 (World Record)
He was chief executive of UK Athletics from 1997 to 2007.
David pictured on the 26th July 1987 in Gateshead.
Photo G.H. ©