George Kerr (runner)

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]

Born(1937-10-16)16 October 1937

Hanover Parish, Jamaica

Died15 June 2012(2012-06-15) (aged 74)

Kingston, Jamaica

Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)

Weight70 kg (154 lb)

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George Kerr

Kerr in 1961
Personal information
Born	(1937-10-16)16 October 1937 Hanover Parish, Jamaica
Died	15 June 2012(2012-06-15) (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 Representing  British West Indies Olympic Games 1960 Rome 4×400 m relay 1960 Rome 800 metres Pan American Games 1959 Chicago 400 metres 1959 Chicago 4×400 m relay 1959 Chicago 800 metres Representing  Jamaica Commonwealth Games 1962 Perth 440 yards 1962 Perth 4×440 yd relay 1962 Perth 880 yards 1958 Cardiff 4×440 yd relay 1966 Kingston 880 yards Central American and Caribbean Games 1962 Kingston 400 metres 1962 Kingston 800 metres 1962 Kingston 4×400 m relay

Close

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]

Kerr won the British AAA Championships title in the 880 yards event at the 1961 AAA Championships.^[4][5][6]

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.^[7]