Fred Norris

Fred Norris was born in Tyldesley and left school at 14 to work as a machinist. He played football, though, for Sale Lane United and Winton United. After watching newsreels of the 1948 Olympics, he took up running and joined Leigh Harriers when he was 26. He later switched to the Bolton United Harriers, for whom he was competing in 1952 when he ran in the Olympics. A long-distance runner, he set over 50 British and English records over various distances at upwards of 20 miles. At the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games he representing England and finished fifth in the 6 miles. In 1959 he won the International Cross-Country Championships, and then emigrated to the United States. He returned to live in England in 1986.

Personal Bests: 10000 – 30:09.8 (1952); Mar – 2-19:08 (1960).