Della James-Pascoe

Regarded as one of the best British female sprinters of her era Della James-Pascoe competed at two Olympic Games and set a national record in the 100 metres. James-Pascoe’s success began when she was a teenager, winning the AAA under-17 titles in the 100 and 200 yards in 1965. This was followed with victories at the English Schools Championships in the 150 yards (1965), 100 yards (1966), and the 220 yards (1967). She was married to Alan Pascoe, who competed for Great Britain at three Olympic Games.

When James-Pascoe was 19 she represented Great Britain at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, running the 100 metres where she reached the semi-finals. She was also scheduled to run in the 4 × 100 metres relay but did not start the race. In the same year as the Olympics James-Pascoe, Maureen Tranter, Janet Simpson, and Val Peat set a world record in the 4 × 200 metres relay.

At the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh James-Pascoe ran in the 100 and 200 metres where she reached the semi-finals in both events. During her career she won 12 medals at the Women’s AAA Championships, including golds in the 60 metres indoor in 1967, the 200 metres indoor in 1969, and the outdoors 100 metres title in 1972.

James-Pascoe ran in the 200 metres at the 1972 München Olympics where she was eliminated in the quarter-finals. She had better success in the 4 × 100 metres relay where the quartet of James-Pascoe, Andrea Lynch, Judy Vernon, and Anita Neil finished in seventh place in a British record time of 43.71.

Personal Bests: 100 – 11.36 (1968); 200 – 23.28 (1972).