Derek Graham

Northern Ireland distance runner Derek Graham joined the now defunct 9th Old Boys Harriers in Belfast as a 17-year-old and went on to become one of the city´s finest athletes. Graham won many Northern Ireland titles in the 1960s including the mile and three miles on six occasions each. He was also the six miles and 5,000 metres champion, and the Northern Ireland cross-country champion eight times. In addition, Graham set UK, Ireland or Northern Ireland records at distances between one and 15 mile, and 3,000 to 10,000 metres. He also set a world best time of 1-03:53 for the half marathon at Belfast in 1970. Graham´s competed in the International Cross-country Championships nine times between 1962-70, and at Rabat, Morocco, in 1966 finished second to local runner Ben Assou El-Ghazi.

On the track, Graham took part in the 5,000 metres at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and in 1966 went to both the European Championships and British Empire and Commonwealth Games. He finished an agonising fourth at the Europeans and was 8th and 5th in the three miles and one mile respectively at the Commonwealth Games. Both races were won by Kip Keino (with Ron Clarke second in the three miles). In the mile race, Graham had the distinction of becoming the first Northern Ireland runner to break the four-minute barrier.

A non-travelling reserve for the 1968 Mexico Olympics, Graham then went to the 1970 Commonwealth Games at Edinburgh. A virus was going around at the Games and against doctor´s advice raced in the 5,000 final, but was so unwell afterwards that he developed chronic fatigue. It later turned into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) and Graham subsequently developed heart problems, and in 1999 was fitted with a pacemaker. Although his athletics career effectively ended at Edinburgh in 1970, Graham made a comeback in 1981 and enjoyed a career as a veteran runner.

Personal Best: 5000 – 13:41.42 (1968).