Bill Baillie facts for kids
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Baillie in 1958
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | William David Baillie |
| Born | 28 May 1934 Nelson, New Zealand |
| Died | 25 December 2018 (aged 84) Cooks Beach, New Zealand |
| Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 6+1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 65 kg (143 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Sport | Track and field |
| Coached by | Arthur Lydiard |
| Achievements and titles | |
| National finals | 880 yards champion (1954, 1955) 1 mile champion (1958, 1961) 3 miles champion (1956) 6 miles champion (1959, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967) Cross-country champion (1960, 1963) 10 miles road race champion (1965) |
| Personal best(s) | 880 yds – 1:52.3 1 mile – 3:59.2 5000 m – 13:40.0 20,000 m – 59:28.6 |
William David Baillie (born May 28, 1934 – died December 25, 2018) was a famous New Zealand runner. He was known for his amazing speed and endurance in long-distance races. Bill Baillie represented his country at the biggest sports events in the world.
He competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan. He also took part in four Commonwealth Games between 1954 and 1966. At the time he passed away, Bill Baillie still held two important New Zealand running records.
Contents
Running Career Highlights
Bill Baillie was a very successful runner for New Zealand. He competed in many different races, from shorter distances like 880 yards to much longer ones like 20,000 metres. His dedication and hard work made him one of the best runners of his time.
Olympic Games Performance
In 1964, Bill Baillie went to the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He competed in the 5000-metre race. This is a challenging middle-distance event. Bill Baillie finished in sixth place, which was a great achievement for New Zealand.
Commonwealth Games Appearances
Bill Baillie represented New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games four times. These games bring together athletes from countries that were once part of the British Empire.
- He first competed in the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
- He then went to the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
- He also participated in the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
- His final Commonwealth Games appearance was in 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
New Zealand Records
Bill Baillie was a record-holder in New Zealand. He set national records for two very long-distance events:
- The 20,000-metre race, which is about 12.4 miles. He ran this in 59 minutes and 28.6 seconds in 1963.
- The 1-hour run, where he covered 20,190 metres (about 12.5 miles) in one hour, also in 1963.
These records show how incredible his endurance was.
Personal Best Times
Throughout his career, Bill Baillie achieved some impressive personal best times:
- He ran 880 yards in 1 minute and 52.3 seconds in 1954.
- He completed the famous 1-mile race in under four minutes, with a time of 3 minutes and 59.2 seconds in 1964. This is a very difficult goal for runners.
- His best time for the 5000 metres was 13 minutes and 40.0 seconds, also in 1964.
Awards and Recognition
In 2001, Bill Baillie was given a special award by the Queen of New Zealand. He was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM). This award recognised his great contributions to athletics in New Zealand. It is a very high honour for his achievements in sports.
Later Life
Bill Baillie passed away on December 25, 2018, in Cooks Beach, New Zealand. He was 84 years old. He is remembered as a true legend in New Zealand running.
