About James Murphy
Lived 1880 – 1962 (aged 82). James Murphy was a British long-distance runner and athletics competitor.
James Murphy (23 February 1880 – 18 July 1962) was an Irish track and field athlete who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics.
Biography Murphy born Galway, Ireland, was living in England by 1908 and performed well in the 1908 English National Cross Country Championships in March, for his club Hallamshire Harriers. He then won the 1908 Irish AAA 4 miles title, qualifying him for the London Olympic Games. where he competed in the men's 5 miles competition. He won his heat to qualify for the Olympic Final but despite leading the final at one stage he dropped out and failed to finish. and became English cross country champion, after winning the English National Cross Country Championships at Haydock in 1909, when running for Hallamshire Harriers.
From 1907 until 1912, Murphy represented Ireland five times in the International Cross-Country championships.
Murphy worked and lived in England and by trade was a colliery worker at the Kinsley Park Colliery in Yorkshire, although in later life he did become a pub landlord. From 1932 until 1936 was president of the Yorkshire Deputies Association.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped James Murphy's
Frequently asked questions
Who was James Murphy?
Irish athletics competitor
When was James Murphy born?
James Murphy was born on 23 February 1880 in County Galway.
When did James Murphy die?
James Murphy died on 18 July 1962 in Reading.
What was James Murphy's occupation?
James Murphy was a long-distance runner and athletics competitor.
What nationality was James Murphy?
James Murphy was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: James Murphy (runner)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James Murphy. https://biography.guide/james-murphy-long-distance-runner/
MLA: "James Murphy." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-murphy-long-distance-runner/.
Chicago: "James Murphy." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-murphy-long-distance-runner/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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