Northern Ireland athletics great Derek Graham launched Belfast’s latest parkrun on Saturday at the Paisley Park venue where he produced one of his most memorable performances in 1967.
Graham, now 83, finished second behind legendary Kenyan Kip Keino 57 years ago as both became the first athletes to run the sub four-minute mile in Northern Ireland.
A plaque jointly commemorating the piece of athletics history and inaugural Paisley Park Parkrun was unveiled just before Graham fired the starting pistol for Saturday’s 5km event at the West Circular Road facility where the 300 odd runners included Belfast Lord Mayor Micky Murray.
“It’s been so long since I’ve been here that on the way up this morning I took a wrong turn and spent 20 minutes trying to find my way back,” laughed Graham at Saturday’s morning ceremony.
Belfast North MLA Brian Kingston, himself a hugely enthusiastic runner, and the former athlete’s long-time friend Colin Beattie were among the driving forces in marrying the new parkrun along with recognition of Graham’s achievement from 57 years ago.
The Paisley Park facility originally was the sports grounds of the nearby Mackies factory and regularly hosted the Northern Ireland Athletics Championships and other international meetings prior to the arrival of the Mary Peters Track in the mid 1970s.
One of Graham’s running contemporaries Norman Windrum, from the then Duncairn Harriers, joked as they shook hands that he was rarely as close to the Northern Ireland athletics legend during their races.