Arthur Russell, of Thomson-Houston AC and Walsall H & AC, won the AAA steeplechase in 1904, 1905 and 1906, but at the 1908 Championships he lost narrowly to Reg Noakes of Sparkhill Harriers. Noakes was unable to compete at the 1908 Olympics, so Russell took over as the first-string of the 11 British competitors in the steeplechase. He confirmed his position as one of the favorites by winning the fastest of the six heats and in the final he ran a well-judged race to beat his teammate, Arthur Robertson, by two metres.
Personal Bests: 880y – 2:05.4 (1906); Mile – 4:26.6 (1904).
Great Britain