Wikiwand AI

Victor Aitken

Australian long-distance runner (1887–1962) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Victor Aitken (23 May 1887 – 31 October 1962)[1] was an Australian long-distance runner. He competed in the men's marathon at the 1908 Summer Olympics.[2]

NationalityAustralian
Born(1887-05-23)23 May 1887
Died31 October 1962(1962-10-31) (aged 75)
Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia
SportLong-distance running
Quick facts Personal information, Nationality ...
Victor Aitken
Victor Aitken, 1909.
Personal information
NationalityAustralian
Born(1887-05-23)23 May 1887
Died31 October 1962(1962-10-31) (aged 75)
Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia
Sport
SportLong-distance running
Event
Marathon
Close

Career

In 1905, he placed second in the one-mile walking championship of Victoria and he also came second in the 1907 5-mile cross country championship of Victoria held at Ballarat. He then came first in the 7-mile open handicap at Heidelberg and the 10-mile cross country championship of Victoria held at the Caulfield Racecourse and beyond, breaking the race record by completing it in 59 minutes and 5 seconds.[citation needed]

In 1908, Aitken was selected as a Marathon representative for the Olympic Games in London and he ran twenty-two and a half miles before retiring due to "sleepiness". A week after arriving home from the Olympics he came sixth in the Victorian 10-mile cross country championship in 61 minutes and 27 seconds, a minute behind the race winner, Charles Suffren of the Ballarat Harriers club. In 1909 he achieved record times in his three and five-mile club races and he broke his own record in the 10-mile cross country championship of Victoria by 19 seconds.[3] Three weeks later on 9 October 1909 Aitken competed in the Victorian Marathon Championship, where he finished fourth overall, and second Victorian to finish in a time of 3 hours, 13 minutes and 52 seconds, which was 8 minutes and 10 seconds behind the Victorian gold medallist, A. "Mack" Connor of Geelong Guild.

References

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks