Gordon McKenzie

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameGordon Edmund•McKenzie
Used nameGordon•McKenzie
Born26 June 1927 in Fort Totten, New York (USA)
Died19 July 2013 in Manhasset, New York (USA)
Measurements172 cm / 61 kg
AffiliationsNew York Pioneer Club, New York (USA)
NOC United States

Biography

Gordon McKenzie was AAU cross-country champion in 1954. He made the 1960 Olympic marathon team by placing second that year at both the Boston Marathon and the AAU marathon. He also placed fourth at Boston in 1961. In the 1955 Pan American Games he finished fourth in the 5000 m and in the 1963 Pan American Games he won a silver medal in the marathon. McKenzie never won a national title on the track but had seven podium finishes at the AAU Championships, as follows: 5K - 2nd in 1953-55, 3rd in 1956; 10K - 2nd in 1955 and 1958, 3rd in 1956. He ran for New York University (NYU) and the New York Pioneer Club. McKenzie was married to the former Christina Slemon, a British middle distance runner who in 1958 became the first US AAU Champion in the 440 yards, and who, in 1953, had been part of a British world-record setting team in the 3x880 yard relay. Gordon McKenzie’s career was as a civil engineer with the city of New York, after studying engineering at NYU.

Personal Bests: Mile – 4:12.9i (1954); 2 miles – 8:58.8i (1955); 3 miles – 14:02.9 (1955); 10000 – 30:34.4 (1956); Mar – 2-22:18 (1960).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1956 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Gordon McKenzie
10,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 18
1960 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Gordon McKenzie
Marathon, Men (Olympic) 48

Special Notes