Brian Kent-Smith

Brian Kent-Smith was the Devon junior cross-country champion in 1956 and the following year was the surprise winner of the Southern Counties one mile title in 4:05.0. At Motspur Park in 1958 Kent-Smith beat Gordon Pirie over a mile.

The son of a Devon farmer, Kent-Smith went on to win both the 880 yards and one-mile Devon county titles but the nearest he came to a senior AAA title was in 1959 when he finished third in the mile. Kent-Smith was one of three British runners in the 1500 metres at the Roma Olympics, along with Mike Wiggs and Laurie Reed, and came closest of the three to qualifying for the final when finishing fourth in his heat, with only the first three going through to the final.

Personal Best: 1500 – 3:42.9 (1960).