Editorial: Thomas record a feat that inspires

Bob Thomas.

It is fair to say that Northland's Bob Thomas is the Peter Snell of field events.

Thomas, a long-jumper from Kawakawa, holds the longest standing field event record in New Zealand history.

In Whangarei on January 20, 1968, Thomas leapt 8.05m.

The record still stands.

Peter Snell, who set the New Zealand 800m record in 1962, is one of two other track athletes who hold unbroken records, for longer. No one in field events can hold a candle to Bob though.

It remains a mystery as to why Thomas did not go to the Mexico Olympics in 1968.
1968 was a big year for long jumpers named Bob.

One by the name of Bob Beamon, then aged 22, set a world record in Mexico, which stood for 22 years and 316 days.

Bob Thomas was last year presented with a certificate by Athletics Northland in recognition of having the longest-standing New Zealand athletic field event record.

He told the Advocate then that he'd broken the record on a race-day diet of porridge.

There were no fancy hyperbaric chambers in Northland in 1968, although Bob came close by running up the stairs at the Moerewa freezing works.

He also focused on improving his ability to leap from a standing start.

Concentrated, simple and effective, and an example to aspiring athletes and sportspeople today sometimes sidetracked by the modern baubles of training.

Ill health prevented Bob from chatting with the Northern Advocate when his unbroken record ticked over another year yesterday.

We congratulate him on what has been described as one of the greatest moments in New Zealand sporting history.