Dave McKenzie (runner)

{{short description|New Zealand long-distance runner}}

{{For|the British sprinter|David McKenzie (sprinter)}}

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{{use New Zealand English|date=September 2020}}

David Closs McKenzie (born 16 March 1943 in Dunollie, Grey District) is a former long-distance runner from New Zealand. McKenzie won the Boston Marathon in 1967, setting a new course record of 2 hours 15 minutes 45 seconds. He was the first New Zealander to win the Boston Marathon.{{Cite web|date=13 December 2016|title=Dave McKenzie wins Boston Marathon|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/dave-mckenzie-wins-boston-marathon|website=Ministry of Culture and Heritage}}

A 24-year-old printer with the Greymouth Evening Star at the time, he lived in Rūnanga on the West Coast. McKenzie had won eight of his 10 previous marathons and was voted West Coast Sportsman of the Year for two successive years. Described as "diminutive, McKenzie is 5 feet, 4 inches in height, weighing only 8 stone, 8 pounds."{{Cite book|last=Ewen|first=Jack|title=Runanga Borough Council 75th Anniversary 1912 - 1987|year=1986|location=Grey District Library, West Coast Collection 993.71 EWE}}

McKenzie represented New Zealand in the men's marathon at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in Mexico City (1968).