Ian Syster

Ian Syster (20 January 1976 – 25 December 2004) was a South African long-distance runner who specialized in the marathon.

He was born in Prince Albert.^[1] He finished fourteenth at the 2001 World Championships and seventh at the 2003 World Championships.^[2] He also competed at the 2004 Olympic Games, but did not finish the race.^[1] At city marathons, Syster finished fifth in the 2002 London Marathon,^[3] and won the Beijing Marathon the following year.

He had a personal best of 13:45.37 minutes in the 5000 metres, achieved in March 2002 in Bellville, and 28:24.61 minutes in the 10,000 metres, achieved in March 2002 in Port Elizabeth. In the longer races he had 1:02:44 hours in the half marathon and 2:07:06 hours in the marathon, both achieved in April 2002 in the London Marathon.^[2] Ian Syster and his two-month-old son drowned in December 2004 in Keimoes following a car accident.^[1][3]

Achievements

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  South Africa
2001	World Championships	Edmonton, Canada	14th	Marathon	2:19:38
2002	London Marathon	London, United Kingdom	5th	Marathon	2:07:06
2003	Beijing Marathon	Beijing, PR China	1st	Marathon	2:07:49
	World Championships	Paris, France	7th	Marathon	2:10:17
2004	Olympic Games	Athens, Greece	—	Marathon	DNF