Alexander Duncan (athlete)

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Alexander Duncan

| birth_name =

| image = Photo of Alexander Duncan.jpg

| caption =

| nationality = British

| sport = Long-distance running

| event = Marathon

| club = Salford Harriers

| birth_date = {{birth date|1884|2|24|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Kendal, Cumbria, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|1959|1|21|1884|2|24|df=yes}}

| death_place = Kendal, Cumbria, England

}}

Alexander Duncan (24 February 1884 – 21 January 1959) was a British long-distance runner and competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000648/19080612/187/0008 |title=Olympic Games, Britain's team of athletes |work=Liverpool Daily Post |date=12 June 1908 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=10 April 2025}} He was considered among the fastest long distance runners in the world.

Biography

Duncan belonged to the Kendal Welcome Harrier Club. Duncan won the English Open Mile in 1902 and came third in the English Half-Mile. He also won the Salford Harrier's sports and Preston Guild mile in 1902.{{Citation| last =| first =| year =1934| title =P.C. A. Duncan's 25 Years in Force| publisher=Evening Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/808053466/?terms=%22alex%20duncan%22%20runner%201908&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}} In 1903, he won the Mile at New Brighton and the Two Miles Handicap at Stanley Park in Liverpool. He then picked up more victories in Barrow, Dalton-in-Furness, Darlington, Jendal, Glasgow, and Leeds. Duncan won the British Northern Counties 4 miles race in 1906.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69022 |title=Alexander Duncan |work=Olympedia |access-date=8 March 2021}}

In 1907, Duncan won the Northern Counties 4 miles again and won the 1907 AAA Championships 4 miles.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000728/19070708/006/0006 |title=Champion athletes |work=Daily Record |date=8 July 1907 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=22 August 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/19070708/020/0002 |title=AAA Championships |work=Sporting Life |date=8 July 1907 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=22 August 2024}} Duncan also came in second place in the 1907 AAA 10 miles race.{{cite web|url=https://nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=19 August 2024}} In 1908, he won the AAA 10 miles race and then won the 22.5 mile English Marathon Olympic Trial.{{Citation| last =| first =| year =1910| title =An invitation to novices| publisher=The Staffordshire Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/807449991/?terms=%22alex%20duncan%22%20olympics%201908&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}

Duncan became the National 10 miles champion after winning the AAA Championships title at the 1908 AAA Championships.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000668/19080706/152/0008 |title=AAA Championships |work=Birmingham Daily Gazette |date=6 July 1908 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=25 August 2024}}

Duncan competed in the men's marathon at the 1908 Summer Olympics{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/du/alex-duncan-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418042250/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/du/alex-duncan-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Alexander Duncan Olympic Results |access-date=22 July 2017}} but did not finish along with seven of his teammates.

Duncan was scheduled to race in the US and Canada in 1909 as part of a tour with Fred Appleby.{{Citation| last =| first =| year =1909| title =Another Marathon Runner| publisher=Nanaimo Daily News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/324259285/?terms=%22alex%20duncan%22%20runner%201908&match=11| access-date = 13 March 2023}}{{Citation| last =| first =| year =1909| title =English Marathon Runner Coming Over| publisher=The Evening Mail|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/776285816/?terms=%22alex%20duncan%22%20olympics%201908&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}{{Citation| last =| first =| year =1909| title =Fred Appleby and Alex Duncan Intend to Cross Atlantic and Meet America's Best| publisher=Vancouver Daily World|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/64411912/?terms=%22alex%20duncan%22%20olympics%201908&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}} He joined the Kendal Police Force in 1910 and his police duties effectively retired him from the track. He later became a Vice-President of the North Staffordshire Harriers.

Duncan was also said to be skilled at gardening and produced "admired" floral displays". Duncan was married and passed away on January 21, 1959.{{Citation| last =| first =| year =| title =Alex Duncan| publisher=Anent Scottish Running|url=http://www.anentscottishrunning.com/alex-duncan/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}

References

External links

{{sports links}}

Category:1884 births

Category:1959 deaths

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1908 Summer Olympics

Category:British male long-distance runners

Category:British male marathon runners

Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain

Category:Sportspeople from Kendal

Category:English male long-distance runners

Category:English male marathon runners