Theo Allen

New Zealand middle-distance runner

Theo Allen
Allen in 1941
Personal information
Full nameTheodore Allen
Born(1914-02-22)22 February 1914
Dunedin, New Zealand
Died16 November 2003(2003-11-16) (aged 89)
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
SpouseHeather Margaret Constance Macdonald
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportAthletics
Achievements and titles
National finals880 yards champion (1937)

Theodore Allen (22 February 1914 − 16 November 2003) was a New Zealand middle-distance runner, who represented his country at the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney, New South Wales.

Biography

Born in Dunedin in 1914, Allen was the son of Theodore Allen and his wife Hester Ann Watkins. He was the New Zealand 880 yards champion in 1937, in a time of 1:55.8.[1]

At the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney, Allen won the first heat of the 880 yards in an Australian record time, before his compatriot Pat Boot won the second heat in a time 2.2 seconds faster than Allen's.[2] In the final, Boot won the gold medal, while Allen finished in fifth place.[3] In the 1 mile event, Allen finished fourth in his heat,[4] but in the final he did not finish, withdrawing from the race at the half-way point.[5]

During World War II, Allen was a second lieutenant in the New Zealand Railway Operating Group.[6] He died in Perth, Western Australia in 2003.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ Hollings, Stephen (January 2015). "National champions 1887–2014" (PDF). Athletics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  2. ^ "880 yards: record-breaking heats". Sydney Morning Herald. 7 February 1938. p. 17. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Vernon Boot breaks his own record". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 1938. p. 15. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Games results: athletics". Sydney Morning Herald. 11 February 1938. p. 18. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Further records". New Zealand Herald. 14 February 1938. p. 11. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  6. ^ "New Zealand, World War II appointments, promotions, transfers and resignations, 1939–1945". Ancestry.com. 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  7. ^ "War service stifles Olympic medal dream". Otago Daily Times. 22 November 2003. p. 39.
  8. ^ "Summary of record information". Metropolitan Cemeteries Board. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
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1938 New Zealand British Empire Games team
Athletics
  • Theo Allen
  • Arnold Anderson
  • Pat Boot
  • Betty Forbes
  • Alan Geddes
  • Stan Lay
  • Jim Leckie
  • Doreen Lumley
  • Cecil Matthews
  • Mary Mitchell
  • Jack Morgan
  • Bill Pullar
  • Graham Quinn
  • Alan Sayers
  • Frank Sharpley
  • Doris Strachan
  • Rona Tong
  • Harold Tyrie
Boxing
Cycling
DivingLawn bowls
Rowing
SwimmingWrestling
Chef de Mission: Horace McCormick
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New Zealand national champions in men's 800 m
Note: 880 yards before 1970
880 yards
  • 1888: P. Morrison
  • 1889: P.H. Cox
  • 1890: J.F. Grierson
  • 1891: D. Wood
  • 1892: J.F. Grierson
  • 1893: Norman Gurr
  • 1894–1896: W.A. Low
  • 1897: J. McKean
  • 1898: H.C. Garsia
  • 1899: C.S. St Hill
  • 1900: J.M. Lynskey
  • 1901: Charles Cuff
  • 1902: E.T. Harper
  • 1903–1904: W.H. Pollock
  • 1905: Greg Wheatley (AUS)
  • 1906–1907: Hector Burk
  • 1908: W.F. Trembath
  • 1909: G. Haskins
  • 1910–1911: W.G. Harding
  • 1912–1913: Arthur Dormer
  • 1914: C.S. Thomas
  • 1915: J.F. Byrne
  • 1916–1919: not held
  • 1920: Arthur Dormer
  • 1921–1922: Charlie Taylor
  • 1923: Ken Griffin
  • 1924: Charlie Taylor
  • 1925: C. Campbell
  • 1926: Charlie Taylor
  • 1927: Chris Olsen
  • 1928 C.B. Allan
  • 1929: Lachie McLachlan
  • 1930–1931: Don Evans
  • 1932–1934: Geoff Broadway
  • 1935: Don Evans
  • 1936: Pat Boot
  • 1937: Theo Allen
  • 1938–1940: Pat Boot
  • 1941–1944: not held
  • 1945: Ken Greville
  • 1946–1947: Doug Harris
  • 1948–1949: Jim Grierson
  • 1950: Cliff Simpson
  • 1951: Neil Wilson
  • 1952: Max Golder
  • 1953: George Hoskins
  • 1954–1955: Bill Baillie
  • 1956: Paul Penlington
  • 1957: Crelin Keig
  • 1958: Michael Earwaker
  • 1959–1960: Peter Snell
  • 1961: Gary Philpott
  • 1962: Peter Snell
  • 1963: Michael Wall
  • 1964: Peter Snell
  • 1965: Robert Hamilton
  • 1966: Gary Philpott
  • 1967–1969: Kevin Ross
800 metres
  • 1970–1971: Bruce Hunter
  • 1972–1973: John Walker
  • 1974: Stewart Melville
  • 1975: Bruce Hunter
  • 1976: Rendell McIntosh
  • 1977: John Walker
  • 1978–1979: Dennis Norris
  • 1980–1982: John Walker
  • 1983: Peter Pearless
  • 1984: Chris Rogers
  • 1985: Peter Pearless
  • 1986: Chris Rogers
  • 1987: Colin McDonald
  • 1988: John Walker
  • 1989: Michael Hindmarsh
  • 1990: John Walker
  • 1990: Michael Hindmarsh
  • 1990: Wayne Paul
  • 1990: Michael Calver
  • 1994: Mark Tonks
  • 1995–1996: Mark Turner
  • 1997: Mark Tonks
  • 1998: Simon Harvey
  • 1999: Hamish Christensen
  • 2000–2001: Mark Rodgers
  • 2002: Jason Stewart
  • 2003: Mark Rodgers
  • 2004–2005: Gareth Hyett
  • 2006: Jason Stewart
  • 2007–2008: Aunese Curreen (SAM)
  • 2009: Matthew Hammond (AUS)
  • 2010: Geoff Harris (CAN)
  • 2011: Adrien Kela (NCL)
  • 2012–2014: Brad Mathas
  • 2015: Andrew Wheating (USA)
  • 2016–2019: Brad Mathas
  • 2020: Michael Dawson
  • 2021–2024: James Preston


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