Frank Evans

Frank Evans began running as a hobby while stationed in Bermuda with the British Navy and he never stopped. Once back in England, he joined the Manchester Athletic Union where he continued to run 400 metres and 800 metres events. One of his greatest moments was on a rain-soaked track at an international meet in 1950 when he ran the race of his life to beat teammate Roger Bannister in the 800 metres final. At his peak, he regularly clocked 51.0 second 400 metre runs and 1:51.0 in the 800 metres. In 1951, he was a member of the English relay team that broke the 4 × 800 metres world record.

The following year, he was a member of the Great Britain Olympic team, qualifying for the semi-final of the 800 metres event at the 1952 Helsinki games. In 1957, Evans emigrated to New Zealand with his wife and daughter. While there, he continued to run as a member of the Onehunga Harriers. He later spent seven years working in the United States, before returning to New Zealand for several years before settling on the Gold Coast in Australia. It was after his return to New Zealand that he began international competition once again, as a member of the New Zealand delegation to the World Masters Athletics Championships, where he regularly won gold in his age group. In his final appearance in 1995, Evans ran for the Australian team in Buffalo, New York, where he won gold in the 400 metres, 800 metres, 4 × 400 metres relay and 4 × 800 metres relay in the 70 to 74 years age group. He died from a heart attack in July 1996, after a training session for the Australian Masters Games.

Personal Best: 800 – 1:52.4 (1952).