Ian Stewart was one of the world's leading distance runners between the
late 1960s and mid-1970s, proving himself especially effective at 5,000
metres. A precocious talent, in 1965, at 16 years of age, he ran a
British age best of 9.12.8 for 2 miles and two years later set a
European junior 3 miles record of 13.39.8. In 1968, he enjoyed a
marvellous season, breaking European junior records at four distances:
3000m, 2 miles, 3 miles and 5,000m. Moving up to the senior ranks in
1969, Stewart continued to excel, taking the European Indoor 3,000m
title in a UK record (7.55.4), claiming the AAA 5,000m title (13.39.66)
and then impressively winning 5,000m gold at the European Championships
in Athens in a time of 13.44.8 .
Though born and bred in Birmingham, Stewart chose to represent his
father's country, Scotland, at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.
In the 5,000m final there, he faced two legendary figures: Ron Clarke
of Australia, the world record holder at both 5,000m and 10,000m, and
Kenya's Kip Keino, who had won 1,500m gold and 5000m silver at the 1968
Olympics. However, to the delight of the home crowd, the race turned
into a Scottish duel in the home straight, Stewart showing typical grit
to pull away from compatriot Ian McCafferty and take gold in a European
record time of 13.22.8 . Wilting in
Ian's fiery last lap of 54.4, Keino and Clarke could only finish 3rd and
5th, respectively. Stewart won acclaim for an excellent season by
being ranked No 1 in the world over 5000m in 1970 by the authoritative
American magazine Track and Field News.
Although the 1971 campaign
proved an anti-climax as injuries halted his progress, he was back to
full fitness in the Olympic year of 1972 and was selected for the 5000m
after finishing in third place at the AAA Championships that summer. In
the Olympic 5,000m final Stewart was fifth of the leading pack of five
at the bell, but when he and Emiel Puttemans began to slightly drop off
the pace it looked like their medal chances had gone. However, Ian then
overtook Puttemans and spent the entire final lap chasing the first
three at a distance of five or six metres before producing an amazing
burst in the home straight to gain the bronze medal in a time of
13.27.6, the legendary Finn, Lasse Viren, taking gold in 13.26.4.
After
a disappointing 1973 season and a mediocre effort in the Commonwealth
Games 5,000m final (5th in 13.40.4) in early 1974, he decided to take up
cycle racing that summer to recharge his batteries. Suitably refreshed,
he returned to athletics in fine style the following year, completing
an excellent double in March 1975 by taking the European indoor 3,000m
crown (7.58.6) and the World Cross Country 12km title. This world title
proved to be Ian's last major international honour, though he still
produced some quality performances in later years, such as his 7th place
in the 5000m final at the 1976 Olympics and a 10-mile world road best
(45.13) in 1977. He hung up his spikes in summer 1978, bringing down
the curtain on a long and illustrious career. (Martin Greensill)
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