Jeff Wells (born 25 May 1954 [1] [2] ) is a marathon runner and pastor, originally from Madisonville, Texas, United States.
Wells attended Rice University, majored in history, and was named an All-American four times in cross country and track. [3]
Wells finished first in the 1976 Houston Marathon, [2] the 1976 Dallas White Rock Marathon, [2] the 1977 Honolulu Marathon, [1] the 1977 [2] and 1979 Nike OTC Marathons, [4] the 1980 Stockholm Marathon, [1] and the 1985 Wang New Zealand Marathon. [2]
He came in second place to Bill Rodgers, by just two seconds, in the closest Boston Marathon finish to date, at the 1978 Boston Marathon, finishing in his fastest-ever marathon time of 2:10:15. [1] Wells's time was either the third- or fourth-fastest by an American to that date, behind three runs by Rodgers, one of which was on a New York Marathon course later found to be shorter than the standard marathon length.
He finished fifth, in 2:13:16, at the 1980 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Buffalo, New York, and fourth in the Olympic Trials 10,000-meter run in the same year. [2]
He was the top American finisher, finishing 24th overall, at the 1977 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior men's race. [3]
Wells is the founding pastor of the WoodsEdge Community Church in Spring, Texas. [5]
Source: ARRS [2]
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1976 | Houston Marathon | Houston, Texas | 1st | Marathon | 2:17:46 |
White Rock Marathon | Dallas, Texas | 1st | Marathon | 2:15:11 | |
1977 | Nike OTC Marathon | Eugene, Oregon | 1st | Marathon | 2:13:15 |
Honolulu Marathon | Honolulu, Hawaii | 1st | Marathon | 2:18:37 | |
1978 | Boston Marathon | Boston, Massachusetts | 2nd | Marathon | 2:10:15 |
1979 | Nike OTC Marathon | Eugene, Oregon | 1st (tied) | Marathon | 2:10:20 |
1980 | Stockholm Marathon | Stockholm, Sweden | 1st | Marathon | 2:15:49 |
1985 | Wang New Zealand Marathon | Auckland, New Zealand | 1st | Marathon | 2:16:43 |
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