Jenny Smart

Seventeen-year-old Jenny Smart gained selection for both individual sprint events at the 1960 Roma Olympics after finishing second to Dorothy Hyman in the 100 and 220 yards at that year´s WAAA Championships. Hyman went on to win silver and bronze respectively in Roma, while Smart finished sixth in the 100 and failed to make the 200 final. She was also part of the quartet in the sprint relay that won their heat to qualify for the final. A failed handover between Hyman and Smart, however, resulted in the British team dropping out of the race.

During an international match against West Germany at Oberhausen, Germany, in 1961, Smart set new British 100 and 200 metres records of 11.5 and 23.6. That year, she was also the WAAA 100 and 220 yards champion. Smart made her international début against Italy in 1960 and won seven Great Britain “caps.”

A member of the Spartan Ladies, Smart won the WAAA Best Woman Athlete of 1961 award. That would be her last season of note as her career faded after that. Injury caused her to miss a large part of the 1962 season, and the serious athletics career of Jenny Smart was soon over, with her bowing out with the 1964 Scottish 440 yards title to her name.

Personal Bests: 100 – 11.5 (1961); 200 – 23.6 (1961).