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
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
- ^ 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
- 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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