John Howell

John Howell and Fred Alsop were regarded as Britain´s leading long jumpers in the 1950s and early-60s. Howell´s set a UK record of 7.63 at Erith, Kent, in 1960 when he became the first Briton to jump 25-feet. The record stood until Lynn Davies broke it in 1964. It was a jump that got Howell, shipping clerk, a place on the British Olympic team. Sadly, he failed to make the final in Roma after being 21cm short of the 7.40 qualifying distance, which Alsop just managed.

Despite winning AAA Southern Area, Surrey, and Inter-County titles, Howell never won a senior AAA title. He was the highest placed Briton in second place in both 1961 and 1962 behind Nigerian John Oladipo Oladitan and Finland´s Jorma Valkama respectively. Howell finished ninth in the 1962 European Championships at Beograd (Belgrade) and then finished eighth in that year´s British Empire and Commonwealth Games at Perth, Australia. Both Howell and Alsop also took part in the triple jump, with the latter taking the bronze medal.

Personal Best: LJ – 7.63 (1960).