Mel Spence

Melville Spence (2 January 1936 – 28 October 2012)^[1] was a Jamaican sprinter who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics and in the 1964 Summer Olympics. He is the twin brother of Mal Spence, an Olympic sprint medalist.^[2]

BornMelville Spence
2 January 1936

Kingston, Jamaica

Died28 October 2012(2012-10-28) (aged 76)

Florida

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Mel Spence

Personal information
Born	Melville Spence 2 January 1936 Kingston, Jamaica
Died	28 October 2012(2012-10-28) (aged 76) Florida
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  British West Indies Pan American Games 1959 Chicago 4×400 m Representing  Jamaica Pan American Games 1963 São Paulo 400 m 1963 São Paulo 4×400 m Commonwealth Games 1962 Perth 4x440 yards Central American and Caribbean Games 1962 Kingston 4×400 m 1962 Kingston 800 metres

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He was a relay silver medalist at the 1955 Pan American Games and was runner-up in the individual 400 m event at the 1963 Pan American Games.^[3] He was part of the winning Jamaican 4×400 metres relay team at the 1962 Central American and Caribbean Games.

Both Mel and his twin brother were recruited to run for Arizona State University during the civil rights movement of the late 1950s, among the first international athletes to come to the US for athletics.^[4][5]