At the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

The 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Perth, Western Australia, Australia from 22 November-1 December 1962. Athletic events were held at Perry Lakes Stadium in the suburb of Floreat and swimming events at Beatty Park in North Perth....

, the athletics events were held at Perry Lakes Stadium

Perry Lakes Stadium

Perry Lakes Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium adjacent to Perry Lakes in Floreat, Western Australia, Australia. It was built and funded by the State Government and the City of Perth in 1962 for the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games and had a nominal capacity of 30,000...

 in Perth

Perth, Western Australia

Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. The stadium, set in the suburb of Floreat

Floreat, Western Australia

Floreat is a residential suburb located west-northwest from the central business district of Perth, the capital of Western Australia. It is bordered on three sides by Underwood Avenue, Selby Street, and Cromarty Road; the western border adjoins or runs through Bold Park. It is located in the Town...

, was purpose-built for the competition. A total of 31 events were contested, of which 21 by male and 10 by female athletes. The competition was affected by hot weather and soldiers from the Australian Army

Australian Army

The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...

 were called upon to supply athletes with water throughout the competition. Heavy wind also affected the programme, with the sprints and jumps most affected by the conditions.

The 1962 Games saw the reintroduction of the men's 3000 metres steeplechase and the women's 880 yards – events which had both been absent for four editions, having previously been held at the 1934 British Empire Games

1934 British Empire Games

The 1934 British Empire Games were the second of what is now known as the Commonwealth Games. They were held at the White City Stadium in London, England from 4–11 August 1934, apart from the cycling at Fallowfield Stadium, Manchester, and the swimming, which took place at the Empire Pool in Wembley...

. Kenya

Kenya

Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...

n Seraphino Antao

Seraphino Antao

Seraphino Antao was retired runner from Kenya. He won two events at the 1962 Commonwealth Games, making him the first Kenyan athlete to win a gold medal at an international level...

's double gold in the sprints, an achievement which marked a breakthrough in the sport for his country. Dorothy Hyman

Dorothy Hyman

Dorothy Hyman is a British athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres....

 completed the same feat on the women's side. Peter Snell

Peter Snell

Sir Peter George Snell, KNZM, MBE is a former New Zealand athlete, now resident in Texas, United States. He had one of the shortest careers of world famous international sportsmen, yet achieved so much that he was voted New Zealand’s "Sports Champion of the Century"...

 won gold medals in both the 880 yds and the mile run

Mile run

The mile run is a middle-distance foot race which is among the more popular events in track running.The history of the mile run event began in England, where it was used as a distance for gambling races...

. In the men's 6 miles race, Ron Clarke

Ron Clarke

Ronald William "Ron" Clarke, MBE is a former Australian athlete, writer, and current Mayor of the Gold Coast. He is one of the best known middle and long distance runners in the 1960s, notable for setting seventeen world records.- Early life and family :He attended Melbourne High School...

 found himself outdone by reigning Olympics 5000 metres

5000 metres

The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...

 champion Murray Halberg

Murray Halberg

Sir Murray Gordon Halberg, ONZ, MBE is a former New Zealand middle distance runner who won the gold medal in the 5000 metres event at the 1960 Olympics. He also won gold medals in the 3 miles events at the 1958 and 1962 Commonwealth Games...

. Women's thrower Valerie Young

Valerie Young

Valerie Young formerly Valerie Sloper, is a retired athlete from New Zealand, who won 7 medals in the Shot Put and Discus events at the Commonwealth Games....

 built upon her 1958

Athletics at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

At the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, the athletics events were held at Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff, Wales in July 1958. A total of 29 athletics events were contested at the Games, 20 by men and 9 by women. Four Games records were improved over the competition.-Men:-Women:-Medal...

 shot put

Shot put

The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....

 gold with victories in both the shot put and discus throw

Discus throw

The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...

.

One Games record was improved at the competition: Dixie Willis

Dixie Willis

Dixie Isabel Willis is a former Australian middle distance runner, who won the gold medal in the women's 880 yards event at the 1962 Commonwealth Games. She was selected to compete over 800 metres for her native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics...

 set a new mark in the women's 880 yards run.

Men

100 yards (wind: −1.8 m/s)		9.50		9.63		9.78
220 yards (wind: −2.5 m/s)		21.28		21.59		21.70
440 yards		46.74		46.86		46.88
880 yards		1:47.64		1:47.90		1:48.99
1 mile		4:04.58		4:05.12		4:06.61
3 miles		13:34.15		13:35.92		13:36.37
6 miles		28:26.13		28:33.53		28:40.26
Marathon		2:21:17		2:22:16		2:24:07
3000 metres steeplechase		8:43.4		8:45.0		9:00.6
120 yards hurdles		14.34		14.48		14.81
440 yards hurdles		51.5		51.9		52.3
High jump		2.11 m		2.08 m		2.03 m
Pole vault		4.49 m		4.42 m		4.42 m
Long jump		8.05 m (w)		7.75 m (w)		7.73 m (w)
Triple jump		16.20 m		16.08 m		16.03 m
Shot put		18.08 m		18.05 m		17.90 m
Discus throw		56.48 m		52.58 m		50.67 m
Hammer throw		61.65 m		59.83 m		57.65 m
Javelin throw		78.11 m		77.94 m		75.07 m
4×110 yards relay		40.62		40.74		40.80
4×440 yards relay		3:10.2		3:11.2		3:12.3

Women

100 yards (wind: −5.8 m/s)		11.2		11.3		11.4
220 yards (wind: −3.0 m/s)		24.00 (wind: −3.0 m/s)		24.21		24.42
880 yards		2:03.85 GR		2:05.66		2:05.96
80 metres hurdles (wind: −7.0 m/s)		11.07		11.40		11.47
High jump		1.78 m		1.73 m		1.73 m
Long jump		6.27 m (w)		6.24 m (w)		6.13 m (w)
Shot put		15.23 m		14.51 m		13.56 m
Discus throw		50.20 m		46.66 m		46.23 m
Javelin throw		50.26 m		49.62 m		48.68 m
4×110 yards relay		46.71		46.81		46.93

Medal table

Key:

1	Australia	12	12	13	37
2	England	7	8	5	20
3	New Zealand	5	4	2	11
4	Jamaica	2	1	1	4
5	Kenya	2	1	0	3
6	Ghana	1	1	1	3
7	Canada	1	0	2	3
8	Pakistan	1	0	0	1
9	Scotland	0	2	0	2
10		0	1	2	3
11	The Bahamas	0	1	0	1
12	Uganda	0	0	2	2
13	Wales	0	0	2	2
14	Barbados	0	0	1	1
Total		31	31	31	93