Jakob Kjersem

Jakob Kjersem (2 August 1925 – 11 June 2009) was a Norwegian long-distance runner. At the 1948 Summer Olympics he finished twelfth in the 10,000 metres final, and at the 1952 Summer Olympics he placed 24th in the marathon.^[3] He never won the 10,000 m Norwegian title, placing second in 1948, 1949, 1951 and 1956. His rivals were Martin Stokken and Øistein Saksvik.^[4]

Jakob Kjersem

Kjersem c. 1960
Personal information
Born	2 August 1925 Tresfjord, Norway
Died	11 June 2009 (aged 83) Vestnes, Norway
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	10,000 m, marathon
Club	Tresfjord IL
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	10,000 m – 30:13.8 (1956) Mar – 2:36:14 (1952)[1][2]

He also won medals in the 5000 metres and the marathon.^[5][6] He excelled in several now-defunct events, having seven national titles in the 25 kilometres road race, the 8 kilometres cross-country race as well as the forest race, won between 1949 and 1960.^[7][8][9]

He was a journalist and farmer by occupation,^[10] and published books on local sport history.^[11] He died in June 2009.^[10]