Born:
September 30, 1940, Prince Albert,
Saskatchewan Died: December 7, 1982, North Vancouver, British Columbia
Inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, 1971
Born:
September 30, 1940, Prince Albert,
Saskatchewan
Died: December 7, 1982, North Vancouver, British Columbia
Inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, 1971
Harry Jerome at the age of nineteen ran the hundred metres in 10.0 seconds (hand timed) and became the first Canadian to officially hold a world track record. The record stood until the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
Jerome ran the record time at the Olympic trials in Saskatoon, Sask. on the Griffiths Stadium Track. Jerome also shared the world record for the hundred yards, for the 440 yard relay as part of the Oregon team, and held the world indoor 60 yard record.
At the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo Jerome placed third, despite having a severe hamstring injury.
In honor of Harry's great accomplishments in Track and Field, the track constructed in Prince Albert for the 1992 Saskatchewan Summer Games was named in his honor.
The plaque erected at the track reads:
| HARRY JEROME TRACK This
track complex was built for the 1992 Saskatchewan Summer Games as a result of the
tremendous effort of the volunteers and the generosity of the sponsors of the Games.
The name of the track was unveiled during the opening ceremonies August 7, 1992 in
recognition of the fact that one of Canada's greatest track stars, Harry Winston Jerome
was born in Prince Albert on September 30, 1940. On July 15, 1960 in Saskatoon Harry Jerome set the world record of 10.0 seconds in the 100 metres. Later that year he became the first man to share the world 100 yard and 100 metre records by running the 100 yards in 9.2 seconds, tying the world record. In November of 1962 he suffered a severe muscle injury requiring him to spend six months in a cast and the medical prognosis was he would never run again. However, he showed his determination by recovering and going on to set three other world records (1966 - 100 yards 9.1 seconds; 1964 - 4 x 1 relay University of Oregon team; 1964 - indoor 60 yards 6.0 seconds). He competed for Canada in the 1960, 1964, and 1968 Olympics, winning 100 metre bronze in 1964. He also won the gold in the 1966 Commonwealth games and the 1967 PanAm Games. After retiring from competition he taught and consulted for Sport Canada and traveled across Canada inspiring young athletes. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1971 and died tragically young on December 7, 1982 in North Vancouver, British Columbia. |
The Harry Jerome track is situated in an aesthetically pleasing setting as part of the
sports complex in Prime Minister's park. It was the site of the 1998 and 2003 SHSAA high school championships, and of the Opening and
Closing ceremonies, and Athletics at the 1999 Western Canada Games, and 2002 Canadian Special Olympics.
Harry Jerome Scholarships and Awards
Other Track and Field Related sites
Athletics Saskatchewan
Athletics Canada
Maintained by David Dice ddice@carlton.paschools.pa.sk.ca