Greenwood on new WR: ‘Good to know it’s an Englishman’
Jack Greenwood, 82, was surprised to learn that someone had broken his M50 world record in the 400 hurdles. Not because he thought the record was that great, but because he didn’t know anyone was still running the event. Tonight I called Jack at home in mile-high Aurora, Colorado (his number is listed in the 1998 USATF membership directory), and he was a delight. “By golly, that’s all right,” he said of Howard Moscrop’s 57.68 to beat Jack’s 58.1 from 1976. “I wish him good luck, and I’d like him to see if he could lower it some more. It’s fine with me.” Jack says he hasn’t gotten National Masters News in five years, and has no Internet access at home, so he wasn’t aware that the event was still being contested.
I read the British newspaper article on Howard’s mark to Jack, and his reaction was one of gratitude: “I’m glad someone broke (the record), and good to know it’s an Englishman.”
I asked why, and Jack explained: “My ancestors were from around Manchester.”
Jack’s paternal ancestors were from England, he said, and his mother’s side of the family was Danish. He also cited the friends he had made in England as part of the David Pain USMITT tour of Europe in 1972. He fondly recalled his friendship with an English athlete named Keith Whittaker, and wondered if he were still alive. I said I’d check it out.
Jack quit competing years ago. His left knee — his lead leg in the hurdles — is arthritic. He said he injured it after the 1991 Helsinki WAVA world championships. But he still runs several times a week. He says he runs or jogs a half-mile every other day and throws in several sessions a week of sprints. He says he does the 50, 60, 80 and 110 (yard) dashes and calls it a day.
His wife of 53 years, Nancy, told me on the phone that Jack has had three heart procedures in recent years, but Jack doesn’t remember when the last operation was. Not important anyway. He says his doctor approves of his running regimen, telling him recently: “Whatever you’re doing, you’re doing right.”
The Greenwoods have two sons — a schoolteacher and one who works in electronics — and one grandchild living in Kansas, who they’ll see in a couple weeks. The grandchild has Internet access, so I hope you’ll send your greetings to Jack via this blog.
Jack Greenwood, a member of the USATF Masters Hall of Fame, is one of my heroes, and not just because we ran the same race and we both attended the University of Kansas. He’s simply one of the greatest age-group athletes in history. This wasn’t something I realized when I first spoke to him 30 years ago for an article in Kansas Alumni magazine.
It was an honor to chat with him — again
2 Responses
eric and luann griesbach - April 2, 2010
Jack
We are the couple from Milwaukee that me you at Dillards on april 2, 2010. It was a great pleasure and honor to talk with you. You trully were a joy to talk to, and that was before we learned about your accomplishments. You have a lot to be proud of and I am sure your family is very pround to call you dad or grandpa
Once again it was truly a joy
Your friends from milwaukee
Eric and Luann
George Gluppe - February 11, 2011
Jack
I was just checking up on you. I too am arthritic and I can’t run a step. Say hello to Nancy.
Your friend
George
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