Collis Birmingham
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Colonel, Ham |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Born |
27 December 1984 Melbourne |
| Occupation | Carpenter |
| Height | 189 cm (6 ft 2 in) (2012) |
| Weight | 71 kg (157 lb) (2012) |
| Sport | |
| Country | Australia |
| Sport | Middle and long distance running |
| Event(s) | 5,000 and 10,000 metres |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Olympic finals | 2008 and 2012 |
| Updated on 5 February 2014. | |
Collis Birmingham (born 27 December 1984) is an Australian middle- and long distance runner. He is a two-time participant at the Summer Olympics (2008 and 2012) and four-times at the World Championships in Athletics (2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015). He has competed at five editions of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. He was an Australian and Oceanian 10,000 metres record holder from 2009 to 2011.
Born in Carlton, Victoria, Birmingham made his international debut at the 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, placing 84th in the junior race. His first senior international race came four years later at the 2007 Championships. That year he won his first national title in his debut over the 10,000 metres distance by winning the Zatopek 10K ahead of Martin Dent. At the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships he took 73rd place and he participated in the 2008 Olympic Games in the 5000 metres event but failed to qualify for the final. He came third at the Great Yorkshire Run 10K and made a half marathon debut at the Great North Run, running a time of 65:46 minutes.
The 2009 season saw Birmingham break the Oceanian record for the 10,000 m with a run of 27:29.73 minutes in Berkeley, California. He won the Australian 5000 m title in March, then placed 29th at the 2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – his best ever placing at the competition. He came fourth in the Emsley Carr Mile and was selected for both 5000 m and 10,000 m races at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics. He failed to finish the longer race and came 16th in the 5000 m final. Near the end of the year he won his second 10K race at the Zatopek Classic and also placed second at the Great Australian Run, winning the Australian 15K road title.
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