Jerome Drayton

Jerome Drayton was born as Peter Buniak to Russian-Ukrainian parents in Germany, who placed him in a group home when he was six. His mother left his father and emigrated to Canada in 1955, bringing young Peter along one year later. Buniak became a top distance runner in Canada, competing as Peter Buniak at the 1968 Olympics in the marathon, although he failed to finish. In March 1969 he changed his name to Jerome Drayton. Some sources state this was in honor of runners he admired – Harry Jerome and Paul Drayton – but Drayton/Buniak has denied this is true.

Over the next few years, Drayton became one of the top marathoners in the world, winning the Fukuoka Marathon in 1969, 1975, and 1976, and his time at the 1975 Fukuoka race – 2-10:09.0 – was a Canadian record that stood until 2018. He also won the 1977 Boston Marathon and won a silver medal in the 1978 Commonwealth Games marathon. Drayton was world ranked #1 in the marathon in 1969 and #2 in 1975 and 1977.

Domestically Drayton was Canadian 10K champion in 1968 (as Buniak), 1969-71, 1975, and 1978 and won the Canadian 5K title in 1970. He was national marathon champion in 1972 and 1973. In addition to his national marathon record, Drayton/Buniak set a national record in the 10,000 metres of 28:25.8 in Hamilton, Ontario on 19 June 1970. He also set two national records in the 10-mile run, one in 1968 as Buniak, and improving that in 1970 as Drayton to 46:37.4. As a career, Drayton worked for many years with the Ontario Ministry of Culture and Recreation.

Personal Best: Mar – 2-10:09 (1975).