Marilyn Neufville
Encyclopedia
Marilyn Fay Neufville is a former Jamaican athlete who had success in the sprints between 1967 to 1971. Neufville broke the world record in the 400 m and won four gold medals and one bronze in various regional championships. Born in Jamaica,she emigrated at eight years old to Great Britain.
in the 200m, where she ran 24.3seconds. Marilyn first appeared on the international scene in September 1969, when she ran the 4x400m in a Great Britain
v West Germany
match in Hamburg
. In March 1970, she competed for Great Britain in the European Indoor Athletics Championships and won gold over 400 m in 53.01, breaking her outdoor PB of 54.2 and the world indoor record, as well as the UK National Junior Indoor Record which still stands to this day. Later in 1970, she won the WAAA outdoor title at the same distance in 52.6.
in Edinburgh
Marilyn chose to represent her country of birth, Jamaica over her country of residence. This caused wide controversy with many members of the British public saying she had betrayed where she was trained and considered her switch like treason. At the Commonwealth Games Neufville established a new world record by improving the preceding mark previously held by the Frenchwomen Colette Besson
and Nicole Duclos with 51.0 (electronically timed as 51.02)at the age of 17. This made her the first and so far only Jamaican female athlete to break an outdoor world record. In 1970, she gained more recognition at ISTAF athletics meet in Berlin then at the AAA championships running 52.6 in front of Germany’s Christel Frese
and Inge Eckhoff. In 1971, in the indoor AAA championships, Marilyn was beaten by Jannette Champion which reversed the result of the previous year. The same year, in the Pan-American Championships in Cali, she gained her third gold medal and bronze in the 4 X 400 m. At the 1971 Central American and Caribbean Championships she won a fourth gold medal. Her successes earned her two Jamaica Sportswoman of the year
awards in 1970 and 1971. After battling with injuries Marilyn returned at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games
but was a shadow of her former self only finishing sixth in the 400m final. In the 1976 Summer Olympics
Neufville made her Olympic debut finishing fourth in her heat but had to pull out of her round 2 heat through injury. There is almost no doubt that Marilyn Neufville never reached her full potential as an athlete.
in Edinburgh
, Scotland
1974 British Commonwealth Games
in Christchurch
, New Zealand
in Cali, Colombia
in Kingston, Jamaica
British Years
Marilyn gained three Women's AAA titles as a junior in the 100 yds and 150 yds in the under 15s category in 1967 and won the 220 yds in the under 17 category in 1968. In 1969, she was second at the Women's AAA Championships behind Dorothy HymanDorothy Hyman
Dorothy Hyman is a British athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres....
in the 200m, where she ran 24.3seconds. Marilyn first appeared on the international scene in September 1969, when she ran the 4x400m in a Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
v West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
match in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. In March 1970, she competed for Great Britain in the European Indoor Athletics Championships and won gold over 400 m in 53.01, breaking her outdoor PB of 54.2 and the world indoor record, as well as the UK National Junior Indoor Record which still stands to this day. Later in 1970, she won the WAAA outdoor title at the same distance in 52.6.
Jamaican Years
In the summer, before the 1970 British Commonwealth Games1970 British Commonwealth Games
The 1970 British Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 16 July to 25 July 1970.This was the first time the name British Commonwealth Games was adopted, the first time metric units rather than imperial units were used in events, and also the first time the games were held in...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
Marilyn chose to represent her country of birth, Jamaica over her country of residence. This caused wide controversy with many members of the British public saying she had betrayed where she was trained and considered her switch like treason. At the Commonwealth Games Neufville established a new world record by improving the preceding mark previously held by the Frenchwomen Colette Besson
Colette Besson
Colette Besson was a French athlete, the surprise winner of the 400 m at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.-Athletic career:...
and Nicole Duclos with 51.0 (electronically timed as 51.02)at the age of 17. This made her the first and so far only Jamaican female athlete to break an outdoor world record. In 1970, she gained more recognition at ISTAF athletics meet in Berlin then at the AAA championships running 52.6 in front of Germany’s Christel Frese
Christel Frese
Christel Frese is a German former athlete who was successful as a 400-meter runner in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She competed for the Federal Republic of Germany in the 1972 Olympics. She won one silver and one bronze medal at European Championships with the 4x400-meter relay of the Federal...
and Inge Eckhoff. In 1971, in the indoor AAA championships, Marilyn was beaten by Jannette Champion which reversed the result of the previous year. The same year, in the Pan-American Championships in Cali, she gained her third gold medal and bronze in the 4 X 400 m. At the 1971 Central American and Caribbean Championships she won a fourth gold medal. Her successes earned her two Jamaica Sportswoman of the year
Jamaica Sportsman of the year
The Jamaica Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year is an annual election, organised by the Carreras Sports Foundation, which honours outstanding achievement in sport by Jamaican athletes during the previous year.-Winners:-See also:*Athlete of the Year...
awards in 1970 and 1971. After battling with injuries Marilyn returned at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games
1974 British Commonwealth Games
The 1974 British Commonwealth Games were held in Christchurch, New Zealand from 24 January to 2 February 1974. The bid vote was held in Edinburgh at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games....
but was a shadow of her former self only finishing sixth in the 400m final. In the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
Neufville made her Olympic debut finishing fourth in her heat but had to pull out of her round 2 heat through injury. There is almost no doubt that Marilyn Neufville never reached her full potential as an athlete.
Trivia
- Despite being World Record Holder and Commonwealth champion when she was 17 she didn't make her Olympic debut until she was 24.
- She was a member of Cambridge Harriers.
European Athletics Indoor Championships
1970 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Vienna, Austria- Gold Medal 400m
British Commonwealth Games
1970 British Commonwealth Games1970 British Commonwealth Games
The 1970 British Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 16 July to 25 July 1970.This was the first time the name British Commonwealth Games was adopted, the first time metric units rather than imperial units were used in events, and also the first time the games were held in...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
- Gold Medal 400m
- 5th place 4x100m
1974 British Commonwealth Games
1974 British Commonwealth Games
The 1974 British Commonwealth Games were held in Christchurch, New Zealand from 24 January to 2 February 1974. The bid vote was held in Edinburgh at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games....
in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand
- 6th in the 400 m
Pan-American Games
1971 Pan American Games1971 Pan American Games
The 6th Pan American Games were held in Cali, Colombia, from July 30 to August 13, 1971. The then called "Salsa World Capital", located at the foot of the Andes Mountains, hosted a total of 2,935 athletes from 32 countries, who participated in seventeen sports...
in Cali, Colombia
- Gold Medal 400m
- Bronze Medal 4x400m
Central American and Caribbean Championships
1971 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics1971 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics
The 1971 Central American Championships in Athletics were held in Kingston, Jamaica.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-External links:* - GBR Athletics* - GBR Athletics...
in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
- Gold Medal 400 m
World Records
- 400m World Record of in 51.02 on July 23, 1970 in Edinburgh (improvement of the world record set by Colette Besson and Nicole Duclos), was equalled by Monika ZehrtMonika ZehrtMonika Zehrt is a former sprint athlete, who competed for East Germany.She won two gold medals at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, in 400 m and 4x400 m relay....
and Mona-Lisa PursiainenMona-Lisa PursiainenEivor Mona-Lisa Pursiainen was a Finnish female sprinter, who was especially successful in 1973–1974. She won 100 metres and 200 metres at the 1973 Summer Universiade....
then beaten by Irena SzewińskaIrena SzewinskaIrena Szewińska is a retired Polish Jewish sprinter who was one of the world's foremost athletes for nearly two decades, in multiple events....
in 1974.
- 400m World Indoor Record in 53.01 in March 1971 in Vienna broken by Nadezhda IlyinaNadezhda IlyinaNadezhda Ilyina is a Soviet athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.Ilyina trained at Dynamo in Moscow. She competed for Soviet Union in the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal, Canada in the 4 x 400 metres where she won the bronze medal with her team mates Inta Kļimoviča, Lyudmila...
in 1974.
External links
- Marilyn Neufville on Sporting Heroes
- Commonwealth Games Results
- Olympic Results
- Video of Neufville's world record