Tony Simmons (runner)

Tony Simmons

Personal information
Nationality	British (Welsh)
Born	(1948-10-06) 6 October 1948 (age 76) Maesteg, Bridgend, Wales
Height	174 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	59 kg (130 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	long-distance
Club	Luton United AC
Medal record Athletics Representing   Great Britain European Athletics Championships 1974 Rome 10,000m

Anthony Derrick Simmons (born 6 October 1948) is a male former athlete from Wales, who competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics. ^[1]

Biography

Simmons finished second behind Dave Bedford in the 10,000 metres event at the 1973 AAA Championships, which was a race where Bedford broke the world record. ^{[2] [3]}

Simmons represented England in the 1974 British Commonwealth Games, in Christchurch, New Zealand ^{[4] [5]} finishing seventh in the 10,000 metres. ^[6] He won the silver medal in the 10,000 metres at the 1974 European Athletics Championships, finishing 4 hundredths of a second behind the gold medallist.

At the 1976 Summer Olympics he qualified for the final of the 10,000 metres, finishing 4th. ^[1] Simmons set a world best for the half-marathon at Welwyn Garden City, England on 24 June 1978 of 62 minutes 47 seconds. The mark stood for nearly 16 months until eclipsed by Nick Rose. Two months after setting the world best time, he represented his birth country (Wales) in the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres events, at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada, finishing sixth in the 10,000 metres and seventh in the 5,000 metres. ^[7]

Personal bests

• 1 mile: 4:03.1, 19 July 1967, Motspur Park, New Malden, London (British record as an 18 year old at the time)
• 1500 metres: 3:41.1 min, 12 June 1977, Cwmbran
• 2000 metres: 5:05.32 min, 4 July 1975, London
• 3000 metres: 7:51.53 min, 23 August 1978, London
• 5000 metres: 13:21.2 min, 23 May 1976, Kiev
• 10,000 metres: 27:43.59 min, 30 June 1977, Helsinki
• Marathon: 2:12:33 h, 7 May 1978, Sandbach

References

1. "Biographical Information". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
2. "AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
3. "AAA Championships (men)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
4. "1974 Games". Team England.
5. "Athletes, 1974 England team". Team England.
6. "1974 Athletes and results". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
7. "1978 Athletes and results". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.

• Tony Simmons at Sports-Reference.com
• Tony Simmons at The Power of Ten
• Tony Simmons at World Athletics

External links

• Anthony Simmons at World Athletics
• Tony Simmons at Power of 10
• Tony Simmons at Team GB
• Tony Simmons at Olympedia
• Anthony Derrick Simmons at Olympics.com
• Anthony Derrick Simmons at the Commonwealth Games Federation (archived) (1974)
• Anthony Derrick Simmons at the Commonwealth Games Federation (archived) (1978)

Records
Preceded by Miruts Yifter	Men's Half Marathon World Record Holder 24 June 1978 – 14 October 1979	Succeeded by Nick Rose
Sporting positions
Preceded by Miruts Yifter	Men's Half Marathon Best Year Performance 1978	Succeeded by Kirk Pfeffer