Frank Clement (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Francis James "Frank" Clement is a retired Scottish athlete who was born on April 26, 1952 in Glasgow
. His was a member of Bellahouston Harriers and a graduate of Strathclyde University.
Clement was an Olympic 1500m finalist coming fifth at the 1976 Games in Montreal
in a time of 3:39.65. He was also fourth in the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton
.
In 1973 Clement achieved success in the European Cup (athletics)
final which he won in a time of 3:40.8, defeating future Olympic bronze medalist Paul-Heinz Wellmann
and 1974 European champion Klaus-Peter Justus
. He also won the 1973 World Student Games (Universiade) 1500m in a time of 3:42.32 defeating the top American runner Tony Waldrop
. Clement was a UK 1,500 metres and mile record holder in the 1970s and won the Emsley Carr Mile
in 1973 and again in 1974. Clement also won the AAA 1,500 metres title in 1972.
Clement improved the British record for 1,500 metres in 1974 to 3:37.4. He set British mile records of 3:54.95 in 1975 and 3:54.2 in 1978. Clement recorded his fastest time for 1,500 of 3:35.66 in 1978. His other personal bests included: 800 metres – 1:45.76; 1,000 metres - 2:19.81 (1975); 2,000 metres - 5:02.8 (1978).
After retiring from competitive athletics, Clement worked for 26 years for Glasgow City Council, where he was race director of the Glasgow Women's 10,000m.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. His was a member of Bellahouston Harriers and a graduate of Strathclyde University.
Clement was an Olympic 1500m finalist coming fifth at the 1976 Games in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in a time of 3:39.65. He was also fourth in the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
.
In 1973 Clement achieved success in the European Cup (athletics)
European Cup (athletics)
The European Cup is a now defunct athletics competition, replaced by the European Team Championships from 2009 onwards. The Europa Cup saw most of the major nations of Europe compete. Originally known as the Bruno Zauli Cup, it first took place in Stuttgart and Kassel , Germany in 1965...
final which he won in a time of 3:40.8, defeating future Olympic bronze medalist Paul-Heinz Wellmann
Paul-Heinz Wellmann
Paul-Heinz Wellmann was a West German middle distance runner who specialized in the 1500 metres.As a teenager he won the silver medal at the 1970 European Junior Championships...
and 1974 European champion Klaus-Peter Justus
Klaus-Peter Justus
Klaus-Peter Justus is a retired East German middle distance runner who specialized in the 1500 metres....
. He also won the 1973 World Student Games (Universiade) 1500m in a time of 3:42.32 defeating the top American runner Tony Waldrop
Tony Waldrop
Tony Waldrop is an American professor, academic administrator and athlete, currently serving as the provost and executive vice president of the University of Central Florida. Waldrop is best known for setting the world indoor record in the mile...
. Clement was a UK 1,500 metres and mile record holder in the 1970s and won the Emsley Carr Mile
Emsley Carr Mile
The Emsley Carr Mile is an annual invitational athletics running event held in the United Kingdom over one mile for men. The race is now part of the London Grand Prix, and was won in 2010 by the Kenyan athlete Augustine Kiprono Choge.-History:...
in 1973 and again in 1974. Clement also won the AAA 1,500 metres title in 1972.
Clement improved the British record for 1,500 metres in 1974 to 3:37.4. He set British mile records of 3:54.95 in 1975 and 3:54.2 in 1978. Clement recorded his fastest time for 1,500 of 3:35.66 in 1978. His other personal bests included: 800 metres – 1:45.76; 1,000 metres - 2:19.81 (1975); 2,000 metres - 5:02.8 (1978).
After retiring from competitive athletics, Clement worked for 26 years for Glasgow City Council, where he was race director of the Glasgow Women's 10,000m.