Jonathan "Jon" Solly (born 28 June 1963) is a male English former

long-distance runner Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely Aerobic exercise, aerobic in nature and requires stamina as well as mental strength. Within endurance ru ...

Athletics career

Solly won the

gold medal A gold medal is a medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture. Since the eighteenth century, gold medals have b ...

for

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

in the

10,000 metres The 10,000 metres or the 10,000-metre run is a common long-distance track running event. The event is part of the athletics programme at the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships, and is common at championship-level events. The ...

at the

1986 Commonwealth Games The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland, between 24 July and 2 August 1986. This was the second Commonwealth Games to be held in Edinburgh. Thirty two of the eligible fifty nine countries (largely African, Asian and Caribbe ...

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

. He achieved his personal best time of 27:51.76 minutes at Crystal Palace on 20 June 1986. That season proved to be his peak as a "litany of injuries that could probably fill a medical text book" prevented Solly from reproducing his best form in the years ahead.

Personal life

Solly was educated at St Bartholomew's School in Newbury and

Durham University Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university in Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament (UK), Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by r ...

, where he graduated with a degree in Politics and Economics in 1985. He still holds the university record in the 5,000 metres. He was a member of

Hatfield College Hatfield College is one of the constituent colleges of Durham University in England. It occupies a city centre site above the River Wear on the World Heritage Site peninsula, lying adjacent to North Bailey and only a short distance from Durha ...

. Solly is now a cabinet maker based at a workshop in Thame, Oxfordshire.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Solly, Jon 1963 births Living people Place of birth missing (living people) English male long-distance runners British male long-distance runners Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England Athletes (track and field) at the 1986 Commonwealth Games Alumni of Hatfield College, Durham People educated at St. Bartholomew's School British cabinetmakers Medallists at the 1986 Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics