Alec Olney
{{short description|British long-distance runner}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Alec Olney
| image =
| caption =
| nationality = British (English)
| sport = Athletics
| event = long-distance
| club = Thames Valley Harriers
| birth_date = 4 January 1922
| birth_place = Hampstead, England
| death_date = 25 April 2017 (aged 95)
| death_place = Harrow, England
| height =
| weight =
}}
Henry Alexander Olney also known as Alec Olney (4 January 1922 – 25 April 2017) was a British long-distance runner who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ol/alec-olney-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418035832/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ol/alec-olney-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |accessdate=6 July 2012}}
Biography
Born Henry Alexander Olney in Hampstead, he went by the name Alec and finished fifth in the English National Cross Country Championships in early 1947.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68775 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=9 April 2025}} Olney then finished second behind Jef Lataster in the 3 miles event at the 1947 AAA Championships{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19470719/076/0004 |title=Great run follows air-taxi dash |work=Daily News (London) |date=19 July 1947 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=9 April 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19470721/062/0004 |title=Army man steals limelight and 2 titles |work=Daily News (London) |date=21 July 1947 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=9 April 2025}} and made his nternational debut against France.
Olney was second again at the 1948 AAA Championships behind Wim Slijkhuis but by virtue of being the highest placed British athlete was considered the British 3 miles champion.{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=9 April 2025}} Shortly after his AAA success he represented the Great Britain team at the 1948 Olympic Games in London.
In 1949, he won the Southern Counties Cross Country title and after finishing third at the 1949 AAA Championships{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=9 April 2025}} Olney married Beryl Thurley on 3 September 1949 in Willesden and the following year was on the podium again at the 1950 AAA Championships, runner-up behind Lucien Theys.
Olney competed at the 1950 European Athletics Championships before taking up road racing.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
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Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics
Category:People from Hampstead
Category:Athletes from the London Borough of Camden
Category:English male long-distance runners
Category:British male long-distance runners