James Cormack

An Anglo-Scot, James Cormack was initially a middle distance track runner and, after placing fourth in the Scottish AAA 880y in 1901, he took the title the following year when he also placed third in the 440y. He finished second in the 880y for Scotland in the match against Ireland at Dublin in 1902. By then he was a prominent member of the London Athletic Club, and in 1903 was offered a Government post in the Office of Works in Johannesburg which he accepted. He later moved to Pretoria to work for the Public Works Department and became captain of the Pretoria Harriers and won their cross country championship in 1904. He also won the South African cross-country championship, and ater winning a 25-mile road race in the Transvaal he returned to Europe in 1906 to run in the Olympic marathon. In the entries for the 1906 Olympics, his affiliation was shown as Transvaal AA, London AC, and Edinburgh Harriers.

Personal Bests: 880y – 2:10.6 (1902); Mile – 4:26.4e (1901).