Roxy Atkins

Roxy Atkins ran for the Canadian Ladies Athletic Club in Canada. In 1928 she won the Ontario Provincial Championships in the hurdles, even though she had never before competed in the event. She later won the 1935 Canadian champion in the high hurdles, and in 1932 set the Canadian record of 11.8 for the 80 metre hurdles. Atkins placed fourth in the 1934 British Empire Games 80 metres hurdles. In 1946 she moved to the United States, where she met her husband on a trip to the Grand Canyon. She was approached by Dan Ferris, secretary of the US AAU, who she had met during her competitive years, and asked to get into track & field administration with the AAU. She later was manager of the US women’s track & field team at the 1956 Olympics, and managed multiple international teams for the United States into the 1980s.

Personal Best: 80H – 11.8 (1932).