Maureen Tranter

Maureen Tranter started her athletics career while at school and was initially a long jumper before her coach recommended that she take up sprinting. She won the under-15 national schools 150 yards title in 1962 and was the 220 yards under-17 champion the following year. A Wolverhampton post office telephonist at the time, she made her Great Britain début against Poland in 1964 and went on to enjoy a ten-year international career.

Tranter was selected for the three Olympics between 1964-72 but only competed at Mexico in 1968. Tranter was a reserve for the sprint relay in 1964 and an Achilles injury forced her to miss the 4x400 relay at München in 1972. The month before the Mexico Olympics, the GB quartet of Tranter, Lilian Board, Janet Simpson, and Anita Neil broke the world 4x110 yards relay record with a time of 45.0 at Portsmouth. Unfortunately, they could only finish seventh in Mexico.

Between 1964-72 Tranter enjoyed seven WAAA podium finishes at 100- and 220 yards, and 200- and 400 metres. Although she never obtained a first place, Tranter was the 220 yards champion in 1967 as the highest-placed Briton behind South African winner Kessie Cornelissen. Tranter won the WAAA indoor 220 title in 1966 and that year added a silver medal with the England sprint relay squad at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games at Kingston, Jamaica.

Tranter spent all her senior career at the the Wolverhampton and Bilston Club, which made her an honorary life-president in 1972. Tranter was also a fine hockey player but turned to athletics coaching after ending her international career. In 1992 she took up Masters running and enjoyed success in Britain and abroad. She competed at the 1995 World Veterans´ Championships at Buffalo New York and returned home with a bronze medal from the sprint and gold with the British relay team in the over-45 category. Tranter´s husband Peter Lewington was a former director of administration at Birchfield Harriers.

Personal Bests: 100 – 11.6 (1966); 200 – 23.4 (1970).