In 1976, a 14 year old lad from Worksop College in North Nottinghamshire qualified for the final of the 1500m at the English Schools Championships, he finished in 5th place, setting a new school record of 4:16.90 in the process (a record that still stands). Ten years later a certain Jack Buckner from Charnwood AC would win the European Championships at 5000m title in a time that has never been beaten.
Whilst at Worksop, Jack unsuprisingly set (and still holds) all 6 of the school distance athletics records, the best of which is his senior boys 1500m record of 3:45.5, which should last the test of time. Other records include a not too shabby intermediate (under 17) boys 1500m record of 3:57.4 and a sub 1:50 senior boys 800m clocking both achieved in 1980.
As a junior in 1980 Jack won the National Junior Championships at 1500 metres (3:50.94). In the same year he clocked an agonizing 4:02.90 for the mile, a mere 3 seconds off every young runners dream - a sub-4 minute clocking, something Roger Bannister had done for the first time only 24 years earlier. In 1980 Jack moved to Loughborough University where he read geography. Whilst at Loughbourgh, Jack achieved relatively little (winning the BUSA 800m title in 1981), however it was when he left university, he started achieving what he had promised as a junior.
During the 1980’s Britain produced a whole host of quality middle and long distance athletes. Ask anyone who they remember from this period and almost certainly they will recall Steve Cram, Seb Coe and Steve Ovett, and for the longer distances, perhaps Dave Moorcroft. One athlete who remains relatively unknown is our man Jack. During his running career Jack won the European Championships, collected silver in the Commonwealth Games in 1986 and in 1987 finished 3rd at the World Championships. He also had the honour of not only being ranked number 2 in the world in 1986 and 1987, but also of being the fastest 5000 metre runner in both Europe and the Commonwealth.
As a younger runner, Buckner concentrated on the 1500m, a distance at which there was considerable competition at this time. It was during the mid 1980’s that he moved on to the longer distances (despite his lack of recognition Buckner’s times would rank him easily amongst the best British 1500m runners over the last 10 years). His real breakthrough came when he ran a 3000m race in Oslo, Norway 1986, where he elevated himself to 4th in the UK all-time list.
Deciding that the longer distances suited him better, Jack decided to concentrate on the 5000 metres (the 3000m is not a competitive event at major championships). The 1986 Commonwealth Games, held in Edinburgh was his first competitive 5000m race and he finished in silver medal position, behind fellow team-mate Steve Ovett, in a not outstanding, (but not bad first attempt!) of 13.25.87. The 1986 European Championships were next and ‘the ill fancied Buckner’ went onto win in a championship best time (13:10.15) which still stands. A rare excursion over the 1500m indoors pushed jack to the top of the 1987 UK indoor rankings with 3:44.64. As the previous year, Buckner was ranked as second in the IAAF world rankings in 1987 and a bronze medal in the World Championships (13:27.74) emphasised this position. Despite being injured for the majority of the 1988 season Jack finished a brave 6th at the Seoul Olympic Games.
After 1988 Buckner was plagued with injury and it wasn’t until 1990 that he returned to the circuit. He qualified for the Commonwealth Games final in 1990, but suffered a bad fall and finished in a lowly 12th place. This seemed to mark the end of his career in competitive athletics, until in 1992 when he ran close to his personal best (13:10.47) in the 5000m and won the AAA title in 13:22.50. Jack went on to work for Adidas and then emigrated to New Zealand to concentrate on his apple farming career…
Jack’s brother Tom was also an international runner. He competed at all the major international championships, his best placing being 5th in the 3000m steeplechase at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. The Buckner’s were the first brothers for over fifty years to compete for Britain in the Olympic Games, with Jack competing in the 5000m and Tom in the 3000m steeplechase at Barcelona in 1992. It would also be interesting to find out how many brothers have both ran sub-4 minute miles, Jack being ranked 10th on the UKAT list (3:51.57) and Tom at 99th (3:58.87).
Has anyone else noticed it is really difficult to find shops in London that sell discus and hammer shoes?
