Jack Powell

Jack Powell was a finalist in the AAA 880y for seven successive years (1931-37), winning in 1936 and placing second three times (1932, 1934-35). He was also the AAA 1000y indoor champion in 1936. His best performances came in Stockholm after the 1936 Olympics when he came within 0.2 seconds of the UK 1,000m record and finished second to Glenn Cunningham the following day in the fastest 800 of the season. Powell’s 1:50.8 placed him third on the UK all-time list, behind Tommy Hampson and Douglas Lowe. During the war, service as a Squadron Leader in the RAF took him to the Middle East where he won the Palestine Championships at 800 (1941-42) and 1,500 (1941). After the war he became a poultry farmer in Sussex and served as President of London AC in 1961.

Personal Bests: 400 – 49.5 (1933); 800 – 1:50.8 (1936); 1,000 – 2:28.0 (1936).