John Merriman

John Merriman was one of Britain’s best 3 and 6 milers - prior to the move to the metric equivalents of 5,000 and 10,000m - in the 1950s and early 1960s. He set two British records for the 10,000m with 29:01.8 in July 1960, and 6 weeks later in the Rome Olympic Games, he became the first British athlete to duck below the 29 minute barrier when he recorded 28:52.89 for 8^th place in the final. That time set 64 years ago has only been bettered once in the Welsh Championships and that was by former world marathon champion Steve Jones in 1989.

But his greatest claim to fame came in the red vest of Wales when he took the 6 miles silver medal in the 1958 Empire (now Commonwealth) Games on home soil in Cardiff. He had a stirring battle at the home of Welsh rugby at the Arms Park with the capacity crowd chanting his name in the closing stages as they felt that a gold medal for the home nation was within his grasp. But Australian Dave Power pipped him to the ultimate prize by just 1 second. It was the only athletics medal won by Wales at those Games.

John repeated his medal success in the next Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia, but this time he returned with the bronze.

Amongst his other fine performances was a 7^th place in the International Cross Country Championships (now World Championships) at Pontcanna Fields in Cardiff in the winter of 1958. This race showed a glimpse of what was to come 4 months later when he took his Empire Games silver just across the road at the Arms Park. He also finished 6^th in the 1958 European 10,000m championships in Stockholm.

John dominated the Welsh athletics scene during his career, setting 16 Wesh records over 3 miles, 5,000m, 6 miles and 10,000m and his induction into our Hall of Fame is long overdue.

Written by Clive Williams.