Harry Green

After finishing third in the first Poly marathon in 1909, Harry Green won the classic event in 1911, the 1910 event having been cancelled due to the death of King Edward VII. Green was again third in the 1912 race, which served as the British Olympic Trial, and in Stockholm he led the British contingent home in 14th place. In May 1913, in a track race at Stamford Bridge, Green set world records for two hours and 25 miles, and posted British records for various distances from 21 miles upwards. More significantly, he went on to cover the marathon distance in 2-38:16.2, the fastest ever by a Briton. During the War, he won the DCM and the Medaille Militaire and received a battlefield commission during the landing at Sulva Bay in the Dardanelles. Green did not resume racing after the wat but maintained a keen interest in the sport and served as a President of Herne Hill Harriers in 1924-25. He died of pneumonia, aged 47.

Personal Best: Mar – 2-38:16.2 (1913).