Gerard's Story
Gerard Barrett developed into one of Australia’s leading distance runners during the late 1970s, competing across track, cross-country and marathon events. The Queensland athlete represented Australia at the world cross-country championships in 1977 and 1979. That year, he recorded personal bests of 13 minutes, 23.37 seconds for 5000m and 27:50.7 for 10,000m.
Barrett placed fourth in the 10,000m at the 1979 World Cup in Montreal before turning his attention to the marathon. In April 1980, he ran 2 hours, 11 minutes, 43 seconds in Adelaide, earning selection for the Moscow Olympic Games. Aged 23, he entered the Olympic 10,000m but did not start the event.
Barrett instead lined up in the marathon alongside fellow Australians Robert de Castella and Chris Wardlaw but was unable to finish the race. He remained a prominent national competitor after Moscow, winning the Australian cross-country title in 1981, the 10,000m championship in 1982 and the 5000m crown in 1987. Barrett later represented Australia at the 1989 World Marathon Cup.
