Herb McKenley
Herb McKenley (actually Herbert Henry McKenley; * July 10, 1922 in Pleasant Valley, Clarendon Parish, † 26 November, 2007 Kingston) was a Jamaican sprinter and Olympic gold medalist.
Career
McKenley, son of a physician, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana -Champaign, he joined me in the championships of the Amateur Athletic American Union ( AAU) to start. In 1945, he won the 400 - meter dash in 48.4 seconds at the AAU Championship. In 1946 he participated in the Central American Championships in Barranquilla. In the 100 - meter dash in 10.7 seconds, he lost against Cuban Rafael Fortún, in the 200 - meter dash in 21.7 seconds, he finished third behind Fortún and Lloyd LaBeach from Panama. About 400 meters made three Jamaicans victory from among themselves. It won Arthur Wint in 48.0 seconds before McKenley in 48.5 seconds and George Rhoden. Along with Clint Woodstock won the three in the 4 x 400 - meter relay.
On June 28, 1947 McKenley put on his first world record. At Berkeley, he ran 46.3 seconds over 440 yards. About the 400 - meter track, he won in 1947 in 47.1 seconds his second AAU title. On June 5, 1948, he improved his world record in Berkeley to 46.0 seconds. A month later, he ran on July 2 in Milwaukee in advance of the AAU Championship 45.9 seconds on the metric distance. He was the first 400 - meter runner, who remained below 46 seconds. The finals of the AAU championship he won in 46.3 seconds. This McKenley traveled as favorite to the 1948 Olympic Games to London. He was about 200 meters in 21.2 seconds in fourth. At its special route he ran 46.4 seconds and lost against his compatriot Arthur Wint in 46.2 seconds. In the final of the 4 x 400 - meter relay, Arthur Wint injured as the third leg of the Jamaican relay in the race to catch up to the leading US- American; McKenley was no longer used as the final runners.
The Central American Championships 1950 were held in Guatemala City. McKenley lost in 10.4 seconds against Cuban Rafael Fortún. About 200 meters McKenley won in wind -aided 20.9 seconds before Fortún and Lloyd LaBeach. About 400 meters in 47.8 seconds before won McKenley George Rhoden. Together with Rhodes, he finished in the 4 x 100 - meter relay in 41.6 seconds in second place behind Cuba. At the Pan American Games in 1951 in Buenos Aires McKenley won three bronze medals. About 100 and 200 meters, he defeated Rafael Fortún each and the Americans Arthur Bragg. On the 400 - meter track victorious time Whitfield and Hugo Maiocco.
At the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki McKenley won the silver medal in the 100 -meter run behind the American Lindy Remigino and before the British McDonald Bailey, the first four runners were all handgestoppt in 10.4 seconds. Over 400 meters of George Rhoden had replaced in 1950 McKenley as world record holder. In the final Wint ran very fast, Rhodes and McKenley followed; after Wint collapsed down the stretch, Rhodes narrowly beat McKenley, for both runners were given 45.9 seconds. In the relay to Wint, Leslie Laing, McKenley and Rhoden gave a close fight with the U.S. relay. McKenley ran his third section in time for unattainable held 44.8 seconds with a flying start and overtook Charles Moore, Rhodes could then defend the tip against Whitfield. With 3:03,9 minutes the Jamaican relay had set a world record.
McKenley was 1.85 m tall and weighed 72 kg in his playing days. He was from 1954 to 1973 coach of the Jamaican team. McKenley was for 12 years president of the Jamaican Amateur Athletic Association ( JAAA ), and member of numerous committees of the International Association of Athletics Federations ( IAAF).
In 2004, he was honored with the Order of Merit, the third- highest medal of Jamaica.