The Bill Rodgers Running Center

Very sad news to share from the running world today; just learned of the passing of great Canadian Olympian and Boston Marathon Champion Jerome Drayton. I raced Jerome many times over the years. He raced for Canada in the Montreal Olympics and he was the 1975 and '76 Champion of the Fukuoka Marathon in Japan. He beat me at Boston in 1977 - and I didn't mind losing to him because I knew he was a clean runner and a great competitor. I admired his honesty and determination. I spoke with him just last month on his 80th birthday and we had a great conversation. Jerome had a hard life as a young person leaving Europe in the wake of WWII, but through terrific effort became a world champion. Truly one of the best in the world. I will remember him as a friend of the world sport and a great Champion for Canada. - Bill Rodgers

Here is his official Obituary:

"Jerome Dayton died unexpectedly on February 10th, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. Loving son of Sonia Huziuk. Jerome led a successful career in long distance running that took him all the way to the Montreal 1976 Olympics. Drayton also is the last Canadian to have won the Boston Marathon in 1977. During his time as a runner, he won dozens of races won around the world and he held the Canadian Men’s Marathon record for forty-three years. In 1978, he was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

For those wishing to do so, memorial donations in Jerome’s honour can be made to the Canadian Olympic Foundation
https://olympic.ca/foundation/support-team-canada/

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