Albie Thomas, one of the great Aussies, dies
Albie Thomas, former world-record holder for two and three miles, and a three-time Olympian for Australia, has died at St George, New South Wales, aged 78.
Thomas was one of the leading members of Australia's great era of distance running in the 1950s-60, a close friend of Herb Elliott, whom he twice helped pace to world records at 1500m and one mile. Fifth in the 5000m at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne (behind Kuts, Pirie, Ibbotson, and Szabo), Thomas then won silver (3 miles) and bronze (mile) in the 1958 Commonwealth Games, at that time almost as strong as the Olympics in distance running. Those races were won by Halberg and Elliott.
His world records were 13:10.08 three miles (1958), 8:32 two miles (1958), a share in the 4 x one mile relay, with a 4:06 leg (1959), and the indoor three miles (13:26.4) 1964. He won two titles (1500m, 5000m) at the world masters championships in 1975, and became an influential coach and club president.
Thomas's personal records were: 1500 3:42.6; mile 3:58.3; 5000m 13:50.0; 10,000m 29:21; marathon 2:29:04.
Tributes were paid today by Australian greats of the past and present, including Herb Elliott, Trevor Vincent, Ben St Lawrence and Eloise Wellings.
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