Anne Smith

Anne Smith was a pioneer of British women´s middle-distance running in the 1960s, and at the Southern WAAA Championship at Chiswick on 3 June 1967 she set the first officially ratified IAAF women´s world mile record of 4:37.0. In the process, she also established the inaugural 1500 metres record of 4:17.3. Smith´s world record stood until Mia Gommers (Netherlands) ran 4:36.8 at Leicester in June 1969. Through 2024 Smith remained the only British woman to hold the official IAAF record at both distances. Educated at a Clapham convent school, Smith later obtained a physical education diploma from the Bedford College and taught at a school in Hammersmith.

Between 1962-68 Smith won eight senior Surrey County titles at 440-, 880-yards, and one mile, and was the four-time winner of the WAAA 880 yards title between 1964-67. Her winning time of 2:04.2 in 1966 was a British and European record. Smith competed at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and set a British 800 metre record 2:04.8 in her semi-final before finishing eight in the final won by team-mate Ann Packer in a world record time. Smith won an 880 yards bronze at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games at Kingston, Jamaica, in 1966 but caused controversy that year when she walked out of the European Championships just before they started. Her actions resulted in a 14-month ban from international selection and from competing abroad until 31 December 1967.

Smith also took part in cross-country races and in 1968 won a team silver medal with England at the International Cross-country Championships at Blackburn and finished fourth in the individual competition, missing out on a medal by three seconds. Smith represented New Zealand at the same championships at San Sebastián, Spain, in 1971 but finished 46th, while New Zealand won team silver.

One of Smith´s coaches was Gordon Pirie and she, like Pirie, emigrated to New Zealand in the 1960s. Smith represented her new country at the 1970 Edinburgh British Empire Commonwealth Games, but failed to make the 800 metres final. Smith eventually returned to England in 1986 when she became a popular teacher at Queen´s College, Harley Street. In 1993 Smith suffered a brain haemorrhage after a day´s teaching. She never recovered and died at the age of 52.

Personal Best: 800 – 2:03.2y (1966).