George Kerr (runner)
 Kerr in 1961 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 16 October 1937 Hanover Parish, Jamaica | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 15 June 2012 (aged 74) Kingston, Jamaica | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 70 kg (154 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 400 m, 800 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Knockalva Agricultural School, Hanover, Jamaica University of Illinois, Champaign (USA) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 400 – 45.7y (1960) 800 m – 1:45.8y (1964)[1][2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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George Ezekiel Kerr (16 October 1937 – 15 June 2012) was a Jamaican athlete who competed in the 400 and 800 metres. He competed for the British West Indies at the 1960 Summer Olympics, where he won the bronze medal in the 800 metres. He then teamed up with Keith Gardner, Malcolm Spence and James Wedderburn to win the bronze medal in the 4×400 metres relay.[1]
In 1962, he became the first Jamaican athlete to have the national flag flown in recognition of winning a gold when he won double gold in the 400 m and 800 m at the Central American and Caribbean Games held at Kingston's National Stadium. At the 1964 Olympics, representing Jamaica, he finished fourth both in the 800 m and the 4 × 400 m relay. He broke the Olympic record for the 800 m in the semi-finals but lost the bronze by less than one-tenth of a second with 1:45.9, his fastest ever time.[1]
Kerr won five medals at three Commonwealth Games. In 1958 he won a bronze in the 4 × 440 yards relay. He won gold medals in the 440 yards and in the 4 × 440 yards relay and silver in the 880 yards in 1962. His final medal, a bronze for the 880 yards, came in 1966 in Kingston, Jamaica.[3]
On 4 June 2012, Kerr had a heart attack and underwent heart surgery at the University Hospital of the West Indies. He remained in the intensive care unit until he succumbed to complications. He had a wife, Fay Kerr, five children, Karyn, Margaret, Roger, Candice and William and seven grandchildren.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "George Kerr". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 23 May 2015.
- ^ George Kerr. trackfield.brinkster.net
- ^ "George Kerr Passes – Wished More Jamaicans Did The 800m". Jamaicanewsbulletin.com. Archived from the original on 25 June 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ^ "Olympian George Kerr dies at 74 – Sports". JamaicaObserver.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
External links
[edit]- Commonwealth Games results at GBRathletics.com
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Commonwealth Games champions in men's 400 metres | |
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| 440 yards (1930–1966) |
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| 400 metres (1970–present) |
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- 1937 births
- 2012 deaths
- People from Hanover Parish
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1956 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1959 Pan American Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1960 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1964 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
- Illinois Fighting Illini men's track and field athletes
- Jamaican male sprinters
- Jamaican male middle-distance runners
- Olympic athletes for Jamaica
- Olympic athletes for the British West Indies
- Olympic bronze medalists for the British West Indies
- Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Jamaica
- Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Jamaica
- Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Jamaica
- Pan American Games gold medalists for the British West Indies
- Pan American Games silver medalists for the British West Indies
- Pan American Games medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Medalists at the 1960 Summer Olympics
- Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics
- Competitors at the 1962 Central American and Caribbean Games
- Central American and Caribbean Games gold medalists for Jamaica
- Central American and Caribbean Games medalists in athletics
- Medalists at the 1959 Pan American Games
- Medallists at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
- Medallists at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
- Medallists at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
- NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners
- 20th-century Jamaican sportsmen