Liz Parsons

Liz Parsons
Personal information
NationalityBritish (Welsh)
Bornc.1945[1]
Cardiff, Wales
DiedJuly 2020 (aged 76)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event
Sprints
ClubRoath Harriers, Cardiff

Elizabeth Parsons married name Liz Johns (1945 – July 2020) was a track and field athlete from Wales, who competed at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games (now Commonwealth Games).

Biography

Parsons was a member of the Roath Harriers in Cardiff and aged 15 she won the 1960 Welsh title.[2]

At the 1966 Welsh championships, she broke the Welsh 100 yards record, setting a time of 10.7sec in the semi final before winning the final and also set a championship record in winning the 220 yards.[3] Coached by Ron Pickering,[4] she defeated her rival Liz Gill in the warm-up Invitation race for the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.[5]

She represented the 1966 Welsh team[6] at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, participating in three events;[7] the 100 yards, the 220 yards and the 4 × 110 yards relay, with Gloria Dourass, Thelwyn Appleby and Liz Gill.

Shortly after the Games, Parsons married Maurice Johns and participated under her married name thereafter.[8]

In 1968, when Roath Harriers merged with Birchgrove Harriers to become Cardiff AAC, she was the first captain of the women's team.[2]

After retiring from competitive athletics she became a coach and an official for Cardiff AAC. She died in July 2020 aged 76.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Entry Information". Free BMD. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Obituary Liz Johns". Cardiff Athletics. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  3. ^ "Jones Zooms Back". Sunday Mirror. 26 June 1966. p. 30. Retrieved 26 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "Pickering For Los Angeles". Evening News (London). 23 April 1965. p. 21. Retrieved 26 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Tulloh ready for Russians". Sunday Mirror. 12 June 1966. p. 38. Retrieved 26 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Wales Kingston 1966". Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Ron Jones to lead strong Welsh team". Birmingham Daily Post. 15 June 1966. p. 22. Retrieved 26 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ "Appleby Thelwyn S.Bateman Rugby". Free BMD. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Obituary Liz Johns". Cardiff Athletics. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2025.