Truus Hennipman-Cruiming

Active in the 1960s Dutch sprinter Truus Hennipman-Cruiming was part of the quartet that set a national record in the 4 x 100 metres relay that stood for almost 44 years. Hennipman-Cruiming was a fine sprinter in her own right, becoming the Dutch champion in the 200 metres in 1965 and 1966, before doing the 100 and 200 metres double in 1968. The same year she ran in the 4 × 100 metres relay at the Mexico City Olympics with compatriots Wilma van Gool-van den Berg, Mieke Sterk, and Corrie Bakker. In the heats the Dutch quartet broke the world record with a time of 43.49 seconds. The record, however, only stood for one day, with the Americans running 42.88 in the final to win gold. The Dutch team bettered their record time from the day before, but still only managed to finish fourth setting a national record of 43.44, which stood until the 2011 World Championships. Hennipman-Cruiming also ran in the 100 and 200 metres at the Mexico City Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively.

Personal Bests: 100 – 11.59 (1968); 200 – 23.43 (1968).