Jerome Drayton

Jerome Drayton, born on January 10, 1945, is a celebrated Canadian long-distance runner who made his mark on the international athletics scene during the 1970s. Renowned for his exceptional talent, Drayton was once ranked as the top marathoner in the world, showcasing his prowess in a sport that demands both physical endurance and mental fortitude.

His illustrious career includes remarkable victories at prestigious marathons, notably winning the Fukuoka Marathon three times—in 1969, 1975, and 1976. Drayton's triumph at the Boston Marathon in 1977 further solidified his status as a leading figure in long-distance running.

In 1975, he set a Canadian men's national record in the marathon with an impressive time of two hours, ten minutes, and nine seconds at the Fukuoka Marathon. This record stood for an astonishing forty-three years until it was surpassed by Cam Levins in October 2018, who completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in two hours, nine minutes, and twenty-five seconds. Drayton's record-breaking performance in 1969 had already eclipsed the previous mark of two hours, eighteen minutes, and fifty-five seconds set by Robert Moore just a month prior.