# Joyce Smith

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{{Short description|British long-distance runner (born 1937)}}
{{About|the athlete Joyce Smith|the member of the Vernons Girls|The Vernons Girls}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name           = Joyce Smith<br /><small>{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}}}</small>
| image          = 
| imagesize      = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels -->
| caption        = 
| nationality    = British (English)
| sport          = [Athletics](/source/Sport_of_Athletics)
| event          = 1500 metres<br />3000 metres<br />marathon
| club           = 	Barnet and District AC
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1937|10|26|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [Stoke Newington](/source/Stoke_Newington), England
| death_date     = 
| death_place    = 
| height         = {{convert|1.69|m|ftin}}
| weight         = {{convert|52|kg|lb}}
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport|Women's [athletics](/source/Sport_of_athletics)}}
{{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[European Championships](/source/European_Athletics_Championships)}} 
{{MedalBronze|[1974 Rome](/source/1974_European_Athletics_Championships)|[3000 m](/source/1974_European_Athletics_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_3000_metres)}}
}}
'''Joyce Esther Smith''' {{small|[MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)}} (née '''Byatt''', born 26 October 1937)<ref>{{cite web| title = Joyce Smith| work = Athletes| publisher = Sports Reference LLC| url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sm/joyce-smith-1.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200418041339/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sm/joyce-smith-1.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = 18 April 2020| access-date =17 November 2008 }}</ref> is a British former [long-distance runner](/source/Long-distance_running). She broke the [world record in the 3000 metres](/source/Women's_3000_metres_world_record_progression) in 1971 and is a three-time medallist at the [International](/source/International_Cross_Country_Championships)/[World Cross Country Championships](/source/IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships), including winning in 1972. She went on to twice win the [London Marathon](/source/London_Marathon), becoming the first British woman in history to run under 2:30 when winning in 1981 with 2:29:57, before further improving the British record to 2:29:43 when winning in 1982. She also competed in the 1500 metres at the [1972 Munich Olympics](/source/1972_Summer_Olympics) and finished 11th in the marathon at the [1984 Los Angeles Olympics](/source/1984_Summer_Olympics), aged 46.

== Biography ==
Smith was born in [Stoke Newington](/source/Stoke_Newington), London, and began running competitively in the 1950s, at which time the longest distance for women in international competitions was [800 metres](/source/800_metres). She won the English National Crosscountry Championship (AAA) in 1959 and 1960.<ref name=Natcross>{{cite web| title = National Crosscountry Champions (AAA) for England| publisher = Association of Road Racing Statisticians| date = 13 March 2007| url = https://www.arrs.run/NC_XCENG.htm | access-date =17 November 2008 }}</ref> 

Smith became the [national 1 mile champion](/source/List_of_British_champions_in_1500_metres) after winning the British [WAAA Championships](/source/WAAA_Championships) title at the [1965 WAAA Championships](/source/1965_WAAA_Championships).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004941/19650704/689/0024 |title=Results |work=Sunday Express |date=4 July 1965 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription| access-date=1 March 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (women) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=1 March 2025 }}</ref> and during that year, she told ''[Athletics Weekly](/source/Athletics_Weekly)'' that she intended to continue competing "for two more years at the most" and stopped running competitively in 1968.<ref name=Firstlady>{{cite web|last=Turnbull |first=Simon |title=London Marathon: First lady is still the one and only |work=The Independent |date=14 April 2002 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020414/ai_n12615192 |access-date=17 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422174851/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020414/ai_n12615192/ |archive-date=22 April 2009 }}</ref>

Smith returned to competitive running in 1969, and broke the [world record](/source/List_of_world_records_in_athletics) for the [3000 metres](/source/3000_metres) distance at the [1971 WAAA Championships](/source/1971_WAAA_Championships).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001723/19710718/021/0021 |title=Women's AAA Results |work=Sunday Sun (Newcastle) |date=18 July 1971 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=6 March 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arrs.run/RecProg/RP_wwT.htm|title=World Record Progressions - Track}}</ref> She won the bronze medal in 1971, the gold medal in 1972 and the silver medal in 1973 in the [IAAF World Cross Country Championships](/source/IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arrs.run/XC_Medal.htm|title=Untitled}}</ref> She reached the semi-final of the [1500 metres](/source/1500_metres) at the [1972 Olympic Games](/source/Athletics_at_the_1972_Summer_Olympics). In 1973, she won her third National Crosscountry Championship<ref name=Natcross/>  She won the bronze medal in 3000 m at the [European Athletics Championships in 1974](/source/1974_European_Championships_in_Athletics).

In 1978, she retired from track running after setting a new world record for 3000 m in the age group W40 of 9:11.2 minutes, which was broken 27 years later,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arrs.run/VR1_O3K.htm  |access-date=17 November 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and ran her first marathon in 1979, beating the previous British record held by [Rosemary Cox](/source/Rosemary_Cox) by nine minutes and seventeen seconds in a time of 2:41:37.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arrs.run/RecProg/RP_GBRR.htm|title = Untitled}}</ref>

In 1979, she won the ''[Avon International Marathon](/source/Avon_International_Marathon)'' in [Waldniel](/source/Schwalmtal%2C_North_Rhine-Westphalia) and the British national title at Sandbach.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000525/19790618/011/0011 |title=Joyce shatters record |work=Staffordshire Sentinel |date=18 June 1979 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=14 March 2025 }}</ref> In 1979 and 1980, she won the first two editions of the [Tokyo International Women's Marathon](/source/Tokyo_International_Women's_Marathon). In 1980, she set a new British 25 kilometre record of 1:28:18 in [Bruges](/source/Bruges), which was also the new W40 world record which was broken 24 years later.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arrs.run/VR1_R25K.htm  |access-date=17 November 2008 }}{{dead link|date=March 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In 1981, she won the first [London Marathon](/source/London_Marathon) in 2:29:57, becoming the first British woman and the first woman over 40 to complete the distance in less than two and a half hours. A year later, she won the event in 2:29:43, again setting a new British record, and becoming the oldest woman to win the race at 44 years, 195 days, a record which has not yet been broken.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tomescu-Dita's Run for the Ages |work=News and Notes: Women's Olympic Marathon |publisher=World Marathon Majors |url=http://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/US/news/173/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828142421/http://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/US/news/173/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 August 2008 |access-date=17 November 2008 }}</ref>

In the first World Athletics Championships in 1983 in [Helsinki](/source/Helsinki), she finished ninth in the marathon. In 1984, she became the oldest female Olympic athlete by running in the [first women's Olympic marathon](/source/Athletics_at_the_1984_Summer_Olympics_-_Women's_marathon), and finished eleventh at the age of 46.

She retired from competitive running in 1986 after setting a new W45 record for the ten-mile distance of 55:33.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arrs.run/VR2_R10M.htm  |access-date=17 November 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In the [1984 New Year Honours](/source/1984_New_Year_Honours), Smith was appointed a [Member of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Member_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) (MBE) for services to athletics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sbharriers.co.uk/history.php |title=Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Athletics Club History |access-date=17 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121054358/http://www.sbharriers.co.uk/history.php |archive-date=21 November 2008 }}</ref><ref>United Kingdom list: {{London Gazette |issue=49583 |date=30 December 1983 |pages=16  |supp=y |nolink=yes}}</ref> She and her husband, Bryan, are on the board of trustees of the London Marathon Charitable Trust.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/site/downloads/The%20london%20marathon%20structure.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=17 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195105/http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/site/downloads/The%20london%20marathon%20structure.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> Bryan is a marathon coach who also organises the Mini London Marathon.<ref>{{cite web| title = Breakout Newsletter| publisher = Royal Holloway University of London| date = January 2008| url = http://www.conferences.rhul.ac.uk/pdf/Breakout_Mag_jan08.pdf| access-date =17 November 2008 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

==Achievements==
{| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes}}
|-
!colspan="6"|Representing {{GBR2}} and {{ENG}}
|-
|1971
|[International Cross Country Championships](/source/1971_International_Cross_Country_Championships)
|[San Sebastián](/source/San_Sebasti%C3%A1n), Spain
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|4.5&nbsp;km
|11:24
|-
|rowspan=2|1972
|[International Cross Country Championships](/source/1972_International_Cross_Country_Championships)
|[Cambridge](/source/Cambridge), United Kingdom
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4.5&nbsp;km
|16:11
|-
|[Olympic Games](/source/Athletics_at_the_1972_Summer_Olympics)
|[Munich](/source/Munich), Germany
|12th (sf)
|1500 m
|4:09.4
|-
|1973
|[World Cross Country Championships](/source/1973_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships)
|[Waregem](/source/Waregem), Belgium
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|4&nbsp;km
|13:58
|-
|rowspan=2|1974
|[World Cross Country Championships](/source/1974_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships)
|[Monza](/source/Monza), Italy
|7th
|4&nbsp;km
|13:04
|-
|[European Championships](/source/1974_European_Athletics_Championships)
|[Rome](/source/Rome), Italy
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|3000 m
|8:57.39
|-
|1978
|[World Cross Country Championships](/source/1978_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships)
|[Glasgow](/source/Glasgow), United Kingdom
|9th
|4.7&nbsp;km
|17:23
|-
|rowspan=2|1979
|Avon International Women's Marathon
|Waldniel, Germany
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:36:27
|-
|[Tokyo Marathon](/source/Tokyo_International_Women's_Marathon) 
|[Tokyo, Japan](/source/Tokyo%2C_Japan)
|bgcolor="gold"  | 1st
|Marathon
|2:37:48
|-
|rowspan=2|1980
|Avon International Women's Marathon
|[London](/source/London), United Kingdom
|7th
|Marathon
|2:41:22
|-
|[Tokyo Marathon](/source/Tokyo_International_Women's_Marathon) 
|[Tokyo, Japan](/source/Tokyo%2C_Japan)
|bgcolor="gold"  | 1st
|Marathon
|2:30:27
|-
|1981
|[London Marathon](/source/London_Marathon) 
|[London, United Kingdom](/source/London%2C_United_Kingdom)
|bgcolor="gold"  | 1st
|Marathon
|2:29:57
|-
|rowspan=2|1982
|[Osaka International Ladies Marathon](/source/Osaka_International_Ladies_Marathon)
|[Osaka](/source/Osaka), Japan
|5th
|Marathon
|2:35:34
|-
|[London Marathon](/source/London_Marathon) 
|[London, United Kingdom](/source/London%2C_United_Kingdom)
|bgcolor="gold"  | 1st
|Marathon
|2:29:43
|-
|rowspan=2|1983
|Osaka International Ladies Marathon
|[Osaka](/source/Osaka), Japan
|8th
|Marathon
|2:40:01
|-
|[World Championships](/source/1983_World_Championships_in_Athletics) 
|[Helsinki, Finland](/source/Helsinki%2C_Finland)
|9th
|Marathon
|[2:34:27](/source/1983_World_Championships_in_Athletics_%E2%80%93_Women's_Marathon)
|-
|rowspan=2|1984
|[Nagoya International Women's Marathon](/source/Nagoya_International_Women's_Marathon)
|[Nagoya](/source/Nagoya), Japan
|6th
|Marathon
|2:38:55
|-
|[Olympic Games](/source/Athletics_at_the_1984_Summer_Olympics) 
|[Los Angeles, United States](/source/Los_Angeles%2C_California)
|11th
|Marathon
|[2:32:48](/source/Athletics_at_the_1984_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women's_marathon)
|-
|1985
|Osaka International Ladies Marathon
|[Osaka](/source/Osaka), Japan
|7th
|Marathon
|2:38:09
|-
|1986
|Osaka International Ladies Marathon
|[Osaka](/source/Osaka), Japan
|14th
|Marathon
|2:42:36
|-
!colspan=6|<small>''' (sf) Indicates overall position in semifinal round'''</small>
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{World Athletics}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090422174851/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020414/ai_n12615192/ ''London Marathon: First lady is still the one and only''], Article by Simon Turnbull in ''[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)'', 14. April 2002

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|before= [Joan Samuelson](/source/Joan_Samuelson)|title=[Women's Fastest Marathon Race](/source/Marathon_Year_Rankings) |years=1980|after= [Allison Roe](/source/Allison_Roe)}}
{{s-end}}

{{Footer International Cross Country Champions Women}}
{{Footer London Marathon Champions Women}}
{{Footer Tokyo International Marathon Champions Women}}
{{Footer WBYP 3000m Women}}
{{Footer WBYP Marathon Women}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Joyce}}
Category:1937 births
Category:Living people
Category:People from Stoke Newington
Category:Athletes from the London Borough of Hackney
Category:English women marathon runners
Category:British women marathon runners
Category:English women long-distance runners
Category:British women long-distance runners
Category:English women middle-distance runners
Category:British women middle-distance runners
Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Category:World record setters in the sport of athletics
Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire
Category:London Marathon women winners
Category:British masters athletes
Category:World record holders in masters athletics
Category:European Athletics Championships medalists
Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Great Britain
Category:International Cross Country Championships winners
Category:20th-century English sportswomen

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joyce Smith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Smith) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Smith?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.