Re-pounding the Past: Flashback to great road races – Part Five (written for UK Athletics 07/08).

Each month, Run Britain will delve into either the domestic or international road running archives and review a classic road race. This month, NICOLA BAMFORD winds back the clock to the 1985 men’s Chicago marathon...

Thirty-year-old Steve Jones of Newport Harriers was in superfluous form in the autumn of 1985 as he captured the Chicago marathon title. The Welsh athlete not only improved Charlie Spedding’s British record; set six months’ previous from 2:08.33 to a superb 2:07.13, but Jones additionally retained his title in the American city for the 26.2 mile event.

Jones had set a World Record whilst taking the 1984 Chicago crown – on his competitive marathon debut - with a 2:08.05 clocking and had an impressive range over the distances; with a 3:42.3 1500m, 7:49.80 3,000m, 13:18.60 5000m, 27:39.14 10,000m and 60:59 half-marathon also to his name.

The former aircraft technician in the Royal Air Force only began training for the marathon in 1983; having focused on the 10,000m for much of his career.

The 1985 London marathon victor and 1986 Commonwealth 10,000m bronze-medallist was the first Welsh athlete to appear on the cover of the prestigious “Running Times” magazine and the 1988 New York City marathon winner currently lives in Boulder, Colorado.