Allan Wells - Running Legend

I had the pleasure of meeting Scottish running legend Allan Wells at the recent National Construction College Scottish Awards.  The Edinburgh born engineer, who served his apprenticeship with Brown Brothers, has long been a hero of mine for his amazing dedication and achievements on the track.  Truth be told, Scotland probably has more famous engineers than it does sprinters.

Allan who ran for Edinburgh Southern Harriers, the sponsors of the first Edinburgh Marathon in 1983,  surprised the running community when he won two Gold medals (200m, 4x100m) and a Silver (100m) at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada in 1978.

Olympic Gold

Two years later he was to participate in three finals at the Moscow Olympics, in 1980, placing 4th in the 4x100m relays, earning Silver in the 200m, with a time of 20:21; and grabbing Gold in the 100m, in a time of 10:11, both of which remain as Scottish records, even 34 years later. 


Allan and the rest of the 100m relay team, Drew McMaster; David Jenkins, and my old school class mate Cameron Sharp,  also hold the Scottish record, having set it in Edmonton.  Although some may have thought that Allan's success in Moscow may have been diluted by the absence of the athletes from the USA, who Boycotted the games.  He soon ended any such doubts by beating all the USA athletes at an invitation event held in Germany two weeks later.  Wells (10:19), Stanley Floyd (10:21), Mel Lattany (10:25) and Harvey Glance (10:31).

In 1982, in Brisbane, Australia, Allan won two more Commonwealth Golds, a wind assisted 10:02 in the 100m, the 200m, which he shared with Mike McFarlane in a dead heat, and a Bronze in the 4x100m relay. The next year, he won his third European Cup title by winning the 200m, also taking second in the 100m.  In 1983 he reached the semi finals of the 100m at the Los Angeles, USA Olympics but unfortunately due to injury, he was not selected for the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games in 1985 but managed to beat both the 100m (Johnson) and 200m (Mahorn) Gold medal winners at Gateshead in 1986.  He also beat Linford Christie at Crystal Palace in the same year.  

Gold for Goudie

Commonwealth Games Ambassador

Having been a volunteer at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh and participating in them in 1978 and 1982, Allan is one of the most deserving Ambassadors for Glasgow 2014.  It was a pleasure to spend some time in his company, to exchange running tales and to take a few photos of the great man who is Allan Wells MBE. 

Allan and the prize winning construction apprentices