Golden trio of Ann Packer, Kelly Holmes and Keely Hodgkinson unite on the Nice Manchester Run on Sunday
Three generations of British Olympic 800m champions met up for the primary time on the Nice Manchester Run on Sunday (Could 18).
Ann Packer received Olympic gold on the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 alongside fellow British champions at these Video games – lengthy jumper Lynn Davies, race walker Ken Matthews and mixed eventer Mary Rand.
Packer competed internationally within the sprints, hurdles and lengthy leap and was Britain’s fourth-ranked pentathlete in 1963. Going into the Tokyo Video games she was higher generally known as a 400m runner.
As AW editor on the time, Mel Watman, wrote: “It was a journey into the unknown, but Packer raced with impeccable judgement. Sixth on the bell in 59.1, she was third at 600m in 90.7 and second to Maryvonne Dupureur across the closing flip. The Frenchwoman was nonetheless 5 metres forward coming into the ultimate straight however as she started to flag so Packer’s stride lengthened and her spirits soared.
As the group of practically 70,000 roared with pleasure and the British supporters went virtually berserk, Packer rushed previous her defenceless rival some 60m out and, with a beatific smile on her face, broke the tape 5 metres clear in a world report of two:01.1 … changing into the primary British lady to win an Olympic monitor title.”
Britain needed to wait 40 years for one more ladies’s 800m champion when Kelly Holmes struck gold on the Athens Video games in 2004 and later accomplished a golden double with 1500m victory.
READ MORE: Ann Packer and the category of 1964
On her 800m win, we reported: “As they reached the house straight, Holmes took over. She was forward, gold was hers and amazingly there was no response from Mutola, however there was from two sources that appeared like they’d been overwhelmed.
“As the road drew nearer, Hasna Benhassi, of Morocco and Slovenia’s Jolanda Ceplak have been edging nearer. However not sufficient. Holmes received, not that she may even imagine it, her eyes trying like they have been going to come out of their sockets as she waited for affirmation on the scoreboard.
“She triumphed in 1:56.38, a season’s greatest time forward of Benhassi, who was second in 1:56.43, a nationwide report, with Ceplak third in 1:56.43.”
READ MORE: Holmes’ golden double
Twenty years later, Keely Hodgkinson accomplished a hat-trick of British 800m victories on the Olympics as she struck gold in Paris. Controlling the race with ease, she clocked 1:56.72 to beat Tsigie Duguma of Ethiopia and Mary Moraa of Kenya.
“That is the primary time we have ever been collectively!” stated Holmes.
Hodgkinson added: “I am simply joined the membership too.”
Packer, who’s now aged 83, stated: “Once I received it was the early days of 800m and sprinters hadn’t at that time actually gone into that occasion. I used to be fairly comfy on the primary lap after which it was a case of hanging on within the third 200m after which coming residence.”
READ MORE: Keely Hodgkinson’s path to Paris glory
Holmes added: “Like Ann, I wasn’t meant to be doing the 800m both. And as everybody noticed on my face, it was a shock too. It wasn’t as huge a margin as Ann received by in 1964, however a win’s a win, proper?”
Hodgkinson stated: “Paris was all the things I dreamed of … and I used to be meant to be doing the 800m on the Olympics! I used to be undoubtedly impressed by the nice women who got here earlier than me, too.”
