Tony Harris (athlete)

Last updated

Tony Harris
Personal information
NationalityBritish (Welsh)
Born1941 [1]
Bridgend, Wales
Sport
Sport Athletics
Event
Middle-distance
Club Mitcham AC

Anthony James Harris (born 1941) is a former track and field athlete from Wales, who competed at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games and the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games (now Commonwealth Games).

Biography

Harris was born in Bridgend, Wales but left for England aged 5. [2] He was a member of the Mitcham Athletics Club. [3]

In September 1962, he just missed out on the final of the European Championships 800 metres. [4] Shortly afterwards, he represented the 1962 Welsh team [5] at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia, [6] where he participated in two events; the 880 yards race and the one mile race. [7]

In 1966, he went to his second Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, competing for the 1966 Welsh team in the 880 yards and mile again. [8]

He set 13 Welsh records during his career and was the first Welsh athlete to break 1 min 560 sec for 880 yards and the first Welshman to run under four minutes for the mile. [2]

References

  1. "Entry Information". Free BMD. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Tony Harris". Welsh Athletics. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  3. "Geoff Wood Records Best Time" . Streatham News. 14 October 1960. p. 13. Retrieved 23 November 2025 via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Courageous" . Birmingham Daily Post. 15 September 1962. p. 14. Retrieved 23 November 2025 via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Welsh team for Empire Games" . Liverpool Daily Post (Welsh Edition). 16 August 1962. p. 10. Retrieved 23 November 2025 via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "The Family Affair" . Daily Mirror. 16 August 1962. p. 19. Retrieved 23 November 2025 via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Wales Perth 1962". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  8. "Wales Kingston 1966". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2025.