Jack Greenwood dies at 88; greatest masters hurdler of all time
He still holds American records in the M60 and M65 300s (43.49 at 1989 Eugene worlds and 45.20 at 1991 Turku worlds.) His marks from the 1970s through the early 1990s are still among the all-time bests.
He was the first M55 to go sub-60 in the 400 hurdles. He was the first M50 and M60 to go sub-15 in the short hurdles (14.7 in 1978 and 14.98 in 1986). Search mastershistory.org, and you’ll find more than 150 references to Jack.
As I noted in April 2008, when I last spoke to him, Jack was excited about learning his records were targets. I wrote:
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.Jack was especially proud of his Jayhawk connections. I interviewed him around 1975 — for Kansas Alumni magazine.
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 (Riley) 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
Jack was associated with Kansas for many years — as a state high school champion, a star for the University of Kansas and as a resident of Medicine Lodge during his early masters career. But in recent decades he had lived in Aurora, Colorado.
Riley Greenwood — himself a Kansas high school hurdle champ — wrote me: “As you say, my father was one of a kind talent both at KU and in the masters program. Please feel free to notify those you think would be interested in knowing of Dad’s passing. I will be contacting KU, but if you know anyone with in the masters program or USA track, please do so.”
I’ll let everyone know of plans for services.
I never saw Jack run. But his legend is clear in my mind. His longevity in both hurdles (as well as his versatility; he was a decathlete as well) make him a giant in our sport. Thanks for showing us the way, Jack.
10 Responses
While I never met Mr. Greenwood, I had the honor of being coached track and taught science by his son Riley. The things he taught both athletically and academically are still with me to this day and I use them when I attempt to help my boys in their endeavors. Judging by the way coach taught us, he had a top notch teacher, and more importantly a great dad. Thanks for this article, it is good to read about how much Mr. Jack Greenwood contributed to one of my favorite sports!
Sorry to hear of this fine man’s death. Jack and Nancy lived near my parents, Ellis and Marie Schiff, in Medicine Lodge. One of the nicest couples you could ever meet.
May he rest in peace. Will always be kindly remembered for many reason.
Ann Schiff Dickerson
Oklahoma City
He was poetry in motion and a true gentleman, fitting traits for a hurdles legend.
RIP Mr. Greenwood. Definitely one of the greatest masters ever.
I was out run by Mr.Jack Greenwood many times in masters track and decathlon meets and I was many years younger than him. What a great person to represent track and field in Kansas and the USA.
Prays for his family and friends.
As Ken mentions he hurdled from his school years through masters at a very competitive level. Some of the older NMN magazines had some nice stories about him.
Jack was a terrific guy and someone who was before his time. How do we know? Well, his performances many years ago still look outstanding today.
Ken, as a minor note, the photo is not from the Penn Relays. Instead, it’s from a large masters T&F meet held at Franklin Field, Univ. of Pennsylvania.
Specifically, the “large masters T&F meet” referenced above was our outdoor nationals (1980). It was a 3-day affair, with Jerry Donley, Pete Mundle, and Jack Greenwood among the notables.
Jack, at 54, was entered in the 100, 200, 400, 110 hurdles (not 100 hurdles), and 400 intermediate hurdles.
Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end.
Even though we are both Jayhawks, I didn’t meet Jack until I was 40, and running my first masters 100. Had no idea who he was, or how good he was. He was 10 years older and 10 yards ahead of me at the finish. Made me want to get better. A thing I still tell people about is that when Jack was in his 60s he set an American record in the indoor hurdles — and month later had double bypass surgery. After that Jack gained some weight and strength and ran his best age group performances. To say he was a great guy, doesn’t say enough. He was very encouraging, and without ego.
I will surely miss talking to Jack, which was from time to time when I was visiting family in Denver. He still had a competitive spirit, but had changed to dog shows in recent years. The Rocky Mountain Masters Games established the Jack Greenwood award for the best combined 200-400 performance. There was only one event between the two. I remember laying out of the 200, hoping to break 60 in the 400, while Paul Johnson (who died in a plane crash in 2006) ran both and won the award.
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