Trevor Vincent
Trevor Anthony Vincent, OAM (born 27 April 1938) is a former Australian long-distance runner, specialising in the 3000 metres steeplechase. In 1962 he competed for his native country at the Commonwealth Games in Perth, Western Australia, winning the gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase event, setting an inaugural Commonwealth Games record and breaking his own Australian record. He also competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan in the 3000 metres steeplechase event.
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| Birth name | Trevor Anthony Vincent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | TV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 27 April 1938 (age 82) Armadale, Victoria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 174 cm (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 64 kg (141 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 3000 metres steeplechase, 1500 metres, 5000 metres | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Glenhuntly Athletics Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life and family
Trevor Vincent was born 27 April 1938 in Armadale, Victoria.
Trevor has a wife Lois and three sons: Greg, Gary and Brett. He also has eight grandchildren: Rachel, Nicholas, Marcus, Sarah, Kate, Zhali, Rhiannon and Ebony.
Athletic career
In 1962 Vincent competed for his native country at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Western Australia, winning the gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase event with a time of 8:43.4 seconds, setting an inaugural Commonwealth Games record and breaking his own Australian record of 8:49.2. The race was staged at Perry Lakes Stadium in Floreat, Western Australia on 24 November. Vincent won by 15 yards ahead of the favoured Englishmen Maurice Herriott and fellow countryman Ron Blackney who won the bronze medal.[1] In the lead up to the Perth games, Vincent trained alongside Olympian Ron Clarke and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Rod Bonella at Caulfield Racecourse, running up to 160 km a week.[2]
He also competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan in the 3000m steeplechase event. Vincent set a time of 8:58.8 seconds, placing 8th, however failing to qualify for the final after being hampered down with injury.
Trevor attempted numerous Australian National Athletic Championships, having great success in the 3000 metres steeplechase event, 5000 metres and 1500 metres. He also attended the 1963 Australian Cross Country Championships, winning the gold medal in the 10 km event.
Personal bests
| Event | Time | Location | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon | 2:26:13 | Melbourne, Australia | 1970-09-26[3] | 1970 Melbourne Marathon |
| 10K run | 29:12.6 | Melbourne, Australia | 1963-09-15[3] | Beating his previous personal best set in 1961 |
| 3000 m Steeplechase | 8:38.9 GR | Perth, Western Australia | 1962-11-24[3] | 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games |
| 2 miles | 8:47.4 | Melbourne, Australia | 1962-09-01[3] | |
| 10K run | 30:56 | Melbourne, Australia | 1961-12-18[3] |
Competition record
International competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing Australia | |||||
| 1962 | Commonwealth Games | Perth, Western Australia | 1st | 3000 metres steeplechase | 8:43.4 |
| 1964 | Summer Olympics | Tokyo, Japan | 3000 metres steeplechase | 8:58.8 | |
National championships
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Australian Championships | 2nd | 3000 metres steeplechase | |
| 1959 | Australian Championships | 3rd | 3000 metres steeplechase | |
| 1961 | Australian Championships | 1st | 1 mile | |
| 1961 | Australian Championships | 1st | 3000 metres steeplechase | |
| 1962 | Australian Championships | 1st | 3000 metres steeplechase | |
| 1963 | Australian Championships | 2nd | 1 mile | |
| 1963 | Australian Championships | 1st | 3-mile | |
| 1963 | Australian Championships | 2nd | 3000 metres steeplechase | |
| 1963 | Australian Cross Country Championship | 3rd | 10 km | |
| 1964 | Australian Championships | 1st | 3000 metres steeplechase | |
| 1965 | Australian Championships | 2nd | 1 mile | |
| 1965 | Australian Championships | 3rd | 3-mile | |
| 1965 | Australian Championships | 1st | 3000 metres steeplechase |
Personal life
Vincent was part of the Olympic Torch Relay for the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. He was also a part of the Queen's Baton Relay for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, as well as the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Vincent has been awarded an Australian Sports Medal in 2000, and the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to athletics in 2008.
Trevor now coaches a weekly running group at Monash University Clayton campus for more than 100 students and staff.
See also
References
- Webster, Jim (25 November 1962). "Great start for Australian athletes". The Sun-Herald. John Fairfax and Sons. p. 45.
- Hore, Monique (15 April 2014). "Glen Waverley runner Trevor Vincent features in National Sports Museum". The Sun-Herald. John Fairfax and Sons.
- "Road racing statistics". Retrieved 1 October 2019.
External links
- Trevor Vincent at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
- Trevor Vincent at the International Olympic Committee