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Did Ann
Packer set a world record when winning the 800
metres Olympic gold medal?
Madeline Edmonds, Cradley Heath
THE JUDGE: Ann,
a silver medallist in her speciality event of the 400
metres in the 1964 Tokyo Olinpics, won the 800 metres
in a then world record 2 m 1.1 s. She was a virtual
novice at the event. As she ran through the finishing
line she ended up in the arms of her future husband
Robbie Brightwell, who was captain of the British
men's team.
How old
was Mary Decker when she first competed in
international athletics?
Emily Spring, Bexleyheath
THE JUDGE: Mary
Decker (later Mary Slaney after marriage to British
discus thrower Richard Slaney) was at 14 years 224
days, the youngest ever US intemational, when she ran
the indoor mile for the USA against the USSR in 1973.
In the same year she won the 800 metres against the
Soviets. It was the start of a long running career in
which she set 22 US records at distances from 800
metres to 10,000 metres despite a succession of
injury problems. She famously tripped in a collision
with Zola Budd when favourite for the 3,000 metres in
the 1984 Olympics.
Did Jonathan
Edwards compete in the 1991 World Championships?
Douglas Wade, Brighton
THE JUDGE: No.
He is a committed Christian, and missed the
championships because the final was on a Sunday. He
has since come to terms with competing on the
Sabbath. Kenny Harrison won the 1991 World
Championship final, and he beat Edwards to the gold
medal in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Jonathan won
the gold medal in Sydney in 2000 and completed a
clean sweep of major championship golds when he won
the Commonwealth Games gold medal in Manchester on
Sunday July 28 2002.
Who was the
first man to throw the javelin more than 90 metres in
competition?
R. Cameron, Huddersfield
THE JUDGE:
Germany's Klaus Wolfermann threw the javelin 94.08 m
on 5 May 1973, and when on 20 July 1984 East German
Uwe Holin reached 104.80 m it was decided that for
safety reasons the specifications had to be changed.
Steve Backley reached 90.98 m with a new javelin on
20 July 1990 but its roughened surface brought a
quick withdrawal and Backley's previous throw of
89.58 m was recognised as the new world record. It
was Backley who was first through the 90 m barrier
with the newly accepted javelin in New Zealand on 25
January 1992 when he reached a distance of 91.46 m.
Czech Jan Zelezny then became the undisputed master
with a procession of throws over 95 m.
True or
false: Linford Christie was born in St Andrews,
Scotland?
George McDonald, Gateshead
THE JUDGE: Christie
was born in St Andrews - Jamaica not Scotland. He
came to England as a boy and began his athletics
career with Thames Valley Harriers.
Which
long-distance runner had the nickname 'Puff Puff'?
Eddie Phillips, Harwich
THE JUDGE:
Gordon Pirie was known as 'Puff Puff' because of the
way he used to blow out his cheeks while running. He
puffed through more miles than almost any other
runner in history, setting 24 British records at
distances from 2,000 metres to 10,000 metres. His
peak years were between 1953 and 1955 when he set
eight world records.
True or
false: Entertainer Bobby Davro's father was a
champion miler?
Sam Hawkins, Wealdstone
THE JUDGE: True.
His name is Bill Nankeville, and he won the AAA mile
title four time in five years between 1948 and 1952.
It was Roger Bannister who interrupted the run of
success in 1951. Nankeville competed for the Old
Woking Athletic Club in Surrey before switching to
Walton. He finished sixth in the 1948 Olympic 1500
metres final in London. His son, Robert Nankeville,
decided that he needed to change his name when going
into show business because he wanted it to fit on the
theatre bills!