Mel Spence
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games • Non-starter |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Full name | Melville Emanuel Alfonso "Mel"•Spence |
| Used name | Mel•Spence |
| Born | 2 January 1936 in Kingston, Kingston (JAM) |
| Died | 28 October 2012 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (USA) |
| Measurements | 177 cm / 71 kg |
| NOC |  Jamaica  West Indies Federation |
Biography
Mel Spence was a top one-lap runner for Jamaica although for parts of his career he represented the West Indies Federation. He competed at the Pan American Games in 1955, 1959, 1963, winning a gold medal in the 4x400 in 1959 (for the West Indies), a silver in that event in 1955 (for Jamaica), and two bronzes in 1963 (for Jamaica), in the 400 metres and 4x400. He also placed fourth in the 1959 Pan Am 800. Spence ran for Arizona State University alongside his twin brother Mal. At the 1959 NCAA Championships Mel Spence was fourth in the 440 yards and fifth in the 880. He was a three-time Border Conference champion as part of the team’s mile relay in 1958, 1960 and 1961.
Personal Bests: 200 – unknown; 400 – 46.94 (1963).
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 Summer Olympics | Athletics | JAM |
Mel Spence | |||
| 200 metres, Men (Olympic) | 4 h1 r1/4 | |||||
| 400 metres, Men (Olympic) | 4 h1 r3/4 | |||||
| 4 × 400 metres Relay, Men (Olympic) | Jamaica | AC r2/2 | ||||
| 1960 Summer Olympics | Athletics | WIF |
Mel Spence | |||
| 4 × 400 metres Relay, Men (Olympic) | West Indies Federation | |||||
| 1964 Summer Olympics | Athletics | JAM |
Mel Spence | |||
| 4 × 400 metres Relay, Men (Olympic) | Jamaica | 4 |
Olympic family relations
- Twin brother of Mal Spence
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Summer Pan American Games (1–2–1 1955 Ciudad de México ATH silver: 4×400 m relay; 1959 Chicago ATH gold: 4×400 m relay (competed for the British West Indies); 1963 São Paulo ATH silver: 400 m, bronze: 4×400 m relay)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the British Empire/Commonwealth Games (1–0–0 1962 Perth ATH gold: 4×440 yards relay)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games (2–1–0 1962 Kingston ATH gold: 4×400 m relay, silver: 800 m; 1966 San Juan ATH gold: 4×400 m relay)