The golden trio of Ann Packer, Kelly Holmes and Koley Hodgkinson join in The Great Manchester Run on Sunday
Three generations of 800m British Olympic champions with UP for the first time at Great Manchester Run on Sunday (May 18).
Ann Packer won the Olympic gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964 along with other British champions in those games: Long Lynn Davies, Ken Matthews racing and the combined event Mary Rand.
Packer competed Internationale in the sprints, obstacles and leaps of length and was the fourth pentatleta of Great Britain in 1963. Upon entering the Tokyo games, it was better known as a 400m broker.
Ash Aw The editor at that time, Mel Watman, wrote: “It was a trip to the unknown, but Packer ran with an impeccable judge. Sixth in the bell in 59.1, he was third to 600 m in 90.7 and second to Maryvonne Dupal, not the last straight, but when he began to mark the passage of So Packer extended and his spirits said goodbye.
As the crowd of almost 70,000 roared with emotion and the British suppliers were almost crazy, Packer ran with his helpless rival at about 60 my, with a beatific smile on his face, broke Metrobe’s Funco Funco Funco tape with the title of the Olympic track. “
Great Britain was 40 years for another 800m female champion when Kelly Holmes hit gold in the Athens games in 2004 and then completed a double gold with a 1500m victory.
Read more: Ann Packer and the 1964 class
In his 800m victory, we reported: “When they arrived at the house in a straight line, Holmes touched. It was ahead, the gold was his and, surprisingly, there was no response from Mutola, but there were two sources that seemed to overcome.
“As the line approached, Hasna Benhassi, or Jolanda Ceplak of Morocco and Slovenia approached. But not enough. Holmes won, I couldn’t just believe it, her eyes seem to go to trust.
“She triumphed in 1: 56.38, the best moment of the season ahead of Benhassi, who was second in 1: 56.43, a national record, with third Ceplak in 1: 56.43”.
Read more: Holmes’ Golden Double
Twenty years later, Keely Hodgkinson completed a 800m British victorious hat-trick at the Olympic Games while hitting gold in Paris. Controlling the race easily, he recorded 1: 56.72 to defeat Tsigie Dugma or Ethiopia and Mary Mora or Kenya.
“This is the first time we’ve fought together!” Holmes said.
Hodgkinson added: “I also joined the club.”
Packer, who is now 83, said: “When I won, it was the first days of 800m and the sprinters had really entered that event. I was quite comfortable in the first round and then it was a case of hanging home.”
Read more: Keely Hodgkinson’s route to Paris Glory
Holmes added: “Like Ann, I wasn’t doing the 800m either. And as everyone saw in my face, it was also a shock. It was a great margin since Ann won in 1964, but a victory, right?”
Hodgkinson said: “Paris was all I dreamed … and I was destined to make the 800m at the Olympic Games! I definitely inspired the great women who also came before me.”
