Jeff Wells (born 25 May 1954 ^{[1] [2]}) is a marathon runner and pastor, originally from Madisonville, Texas, United States.

Running

Wells attended Rice University, majored in history, and was named an All-American four times in cross country and track. ^[3]

Wells finished first in the 1976 Houston Marathon, ^[2] the 1976 Dallas White Rock Marathon, ^[2] the 1977 Honolulu Marathon, ^[1] the 1977 ^[2] and 1979 Nike OTC Marathons, ^[4] the 1980 Stockholm Marathon, ^[1] and the 1985 Wang New Zealand Marathon. ^[2]

He came in second place to Bill Rodgers, by just two seconds, in the closest Boston Marathon finish to date, at the 1978 Boston Marathon, finishing in his fastest-ever marathon time of 2:10:15. ^[1] Wells's time was either the third- or fourth-fastest by an American to that date, behind three runs by Rodgers, one of which was on a New York Marathon course later found to be shorter than the standard marathon length.

He finished fifth, in 2:13:16, at the 1980 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Buffalo, New York, and fourth in the Olympic Trials 10,000-meter run in the same year. ^[2]

He was the top American finisher, finishing 24th overall, at the 1977 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior men's race. ^[3]

Pastor

Wells is the founding pastor of the WoodsEdge Community Church in Spring, Texas. ^[5]

Achievements

Source: ARRS ^[2]

References