Theo Allen Explained

Theo Allen
Fullname:Theodore Allen
Birth Date:22 February 1914
Birth Place:Dunedin, New Zealand
Death Place:Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Spouse:Heather Margaret Constance Macdonald
Country:New Zealand
Sport:Athletics
Nationals:880 yards champion (1937)

Theodore Allen (22 February 1914 − 16 November 2003) was a New Zealand middle-distance runner, who represented his country at the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney, New South Wales.

Biography

Born in Dunedin in 1914, Allen was the son of Theodore Allen and his wife Hester Ann Watkins. He was the New Zealand 880 yards champion in 1937, in a time of 1:55.8.[1]

At the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney, Allen won the first heat of the 880 yards in an Australian record time, before his compatriot Pat Boot won the second heat in a time 2.2 seconds faster than Allen's.[2] In the final, Boot won the gold medal, while Allen finished in fifth place.[3] In the 1 mile event, Allen finished fourth in his heat,[4] but in the final he did not finish, withdrawing from the race at the half-way point.[5]

During World War II, Allen was a second lieutenant in the New Zealand Railway Operating Group.[6] He died in Perth, Western Australia in 2003.[7] [8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National champions 1887–2014 . January 2015 . Athletics New Zealand . 26 May 2015 . Stephen . Hollings.
  2. News: 880 yards: record-breaking heats . 7 February 1938 . Sydney Morning Herald . 26 May 2015 . 17.
  3. News: Vernon Boot breaks his own record . 8 February 1938 . Sydney Morning Herald . 26 May 2015 . 15.
  4. News: Games results: athletics . 11 February 1938 . Sydney Morning Herald . 26 May 2015 . 18.
  5. News: Further records . 14 February 1938 . New Zealand Herald . 26 May 2015 . 11.
  6. Web site: New Zealand, World War II appointments, promotions, transfers and resignations, 1939–1945 . 2014 . Ancestry.com . 26 May 2015 . subscription .
  7. News: War service stifles Olympic medal dream . 22 November 2003 . Otago Daily Times . 39.
  8. Web site: Summary of record information . Metropolitan Cemeteries Board . 26 May 2015.