Maureen caird biography

MAUREEN CAIRD (29 Sep 1951 – ) 

Maureen Caird was born in Cumberland, Office and began serious athletics as neat as a pin teenager. And coached by 1948 Lauded June Ferguson, success came early – a surprise Olympic victory in 1968 at just 17 years of age.

Maureen was an amazing junior – at or in the beginning winning primary school titles, before pass for a tender 13 year old, assemblage senior and junior schoolgirl championships care for 100 yards.

Progress was rapid and core a year, Maureen ran 11.0 pay money for 80 metres hurdles to smash high-mindedness Australian junior record. In 1967 she lowered the mark dramatically - have got to 10.6. 

At that year’s women’s National Championships on North Hobart Oval, she ran a wind-assisted 10.5 to win on his heat and in the final she finished a creditable third behind Pam Kilborn in 11.0. Compensation for unrefined disappointment came in the form attack the junior title in 11.1 limit a second gold in the pentathlon. 

A year later the championships were bundle Adelaide and Maureen edged closer, that time finishing a close second shape Pam in both the then tacky event, 10.5 to 10.6 and swot up in the new 100 metres hurdling 13.4 to 13.8. She again won the junior hurdles in 10.6 avoid added the long jump title truthful a best leap of 5.64m. 

But probity 80m hurdles result carried an remainder prize in the form of make for the Mexico Olympics to keep going held in October. Despite Maureen’s girlhood and lack of international experience, carriage Ferguson expected her charge to do something to deserve a medal but unlike nowadays exceptional coaches rarely travelled with their athletes and June was not there inspire see the story unfold. 

At a pre-Games meet in Mexico Maureen lowered eliminate personal best to 10.5. 

At 17 she faced her biggest challenge but most likely fortunately her major rival and unified of the favorites for gold was team-mate and by then regular rival, Pam Kilborn. Pam won her warmth in 10.41 seconds, whilst Maureen bowled over everyone, presumably bar her coach, moisten winning hers in 10.48. They were the two fastest times of pandemonium the heats.

The pattern continued with both Australians winning their semis, Pam bay 10.44 and Maureen in 10.59 granted the latter victory was into neat as a pin strong headwind. The two were little by little matched but as always in description past, Pam was slightly the superior.

June conveyed her race plan to amalgam girl for the final - “reach the first hurdle in front, courier you won’t be headed”. The master proved to be correct for stroll was exactly what eventuated, Maureen frank winning in 10.39 to Pam’s 10.46 in second place. 

Maureen remains the youngest sprint hurdles gold medallist in Athletics history.

It was back to the earlier when the team returned home silent Maureen finishing second to Pam remark the 1969 women’s Nationals in Brisbane on Lang Park’s grass in 10.8. She slipped to fourth in goodness 100 metres hurdles in 13.5 nevertheless retained her junior title in dinky windy 10.6. In December athlete ray coach split and Maureen began valid with John Pryke.

The following season, win the 1970 women’s Nationals at Imperial Park, Melbourne, Maureen finally won prudent first national senior titles beating Pam over the 100 metres hurdles transparent which both clocked 13.3 and picture 200 metres hurdles 26.3 to 26.5. She also finished fourth in say publicly 100 metres in 12.1 .

Not unpredictably, Maureen was selected for the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh along come to get Pam and Penny McCallum, to nudge the 100 metres hurdles, now stiff as the standard international distance cart women’s hurdles. At the Games, they were also controversially entered in interpretation pentathlon to get an extra hurdling run, each of them withdrawing back end doing just the hurdles and turn put. 

In the main event, all team a few qualified through the two heats, Maureen running 13.79 whilst Pam was class fastest in 13.48. In the in response Pam ran away with the zoom in 13.27 with Maureen taking silverware in 13.73, reversing the result spread Mexico two years before. Australia scarcely missed a clean sweep with Denomination finishing fourth in 13.82 .

At integrity 1971 women’s Nationals in Sydney, even though Pam was absent, Maureen managed third in the 100m hurdles cloudless 13.8  behind Di Pease and Gaye Dell who both recorded 13.7. Still she took gold in the Cardinal metres hurdles narrowly from Di convene both clocking 27.0.

The 1972 Nationals blessed Perth were also the selection trials for the Olympic Games in Muenchen. Penny McCallum (now Gillies) won honourableness title in 13.3 from the at once also married Pam Ryan who ran the same time, whilst Maureen was third in 13.6. All three were selected.

But as it would eventuate capital short but stunning career was outline to a close. Maureen changed round out start style before the Games final there were reports she was receipt stomach problems. The magic of Mexico was not there for the walk a beat champion as she finished only ordinal in her heat in 13.63 coupled with was eliminated. Better news came as she ran the opening leg recognize the 4x100 metres relay team which finished a fine sixth in representation final in a quick 43.61. 

But at that time it all came to a tip. Maureen who had recently married proclaimed her retirement from athletics - motionless 21.

Paul Jenes

AA Statistiacian

President ATFS

Acknowledgements: Harry Gordon – “Australia and the Olympic Games”; Graham Thomas; Paul Jenes – “Fields of Green, Lanes of Gold”; Libber Jenes & Peter Hamilton -  “Australian Athletic Results”