David Moorcroft
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David Moorcroft (April 10, 1953) was an English 1500 m and 5000 m runner whose career spanned the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was also Chief Executive of UK Athletics from 1997 to 2006
Moorcroft was born in Coventry, West Midlands. He was a pupil at Woodlands Comprehensive School. He studied Physical Education and Sport Science at Loughborough University. He was a member of the Coventry Godiva Harriers athletics club.
He was awarded an OBE in 1998 for services to athletics. He remains the British record holder over 5,000m.
Moorcroft had a remarkable season in 1982, where he broke the 5000m World Record by 5.79s & demonstrated his lower end range by recording 1:46.64 for 800m. It's been speculated that on the basis of these performances at widely different distances, that if he'd spent that season chasing fast times at other distances, with adequate rest before races & efficient pacemaking, he was capable that year of breaking the World Records for 1500m, 1 Mile, 2000m & 3000m.
However following Great Britain's worst performance at a European Athletics Championship for twenty years, Moorcroft announced on 24 August 2006 that he would step down from his position at UK Athletics, stating "I am convinced that I am taking the right decision at the right time." The results in Gothenburg (not one individual gold medal being obtained) were the latest in a string of disappointing medal hauls at major championships with the London 2012 Olympics looming large on the horizon. [1]
[edit] Personal life
Moorcroft is married to fellow athlete Linda, who came fourth in her section at the Coventry Lady Godiva Half Marathon. The couple's son Paul married Valerie Saker in 2006; daughter Lucy is engaged to be married to Pete Barbour.
[edit] Achievements
- 1978
- 1st, 1500 m, Commonwealth Games (Edmonton, Alberta)
- 1982
- 1st, 5000 m, Commonwealth Games (Brisbane, Queensland)
- Set the world record for 5000 m in Oslo at the Bislett Games at 13:00.41 which was to stand until broken by Said Aouita.
- 1993
- Set the master's division (age 40+) world record for 1500 m, 3:46.7, a mark which still stands
