Phyllis Perkins
{{short description|British middle-distance runner (1934–2023)}}
{{for|the British high jumper|Phyllis Nicol}}
{{use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Phyllis Perkins
(née Phyllis Green)
| birth_name =
| image =
| caption =
| nationality = British (English)
| sport = Athletics
| event = Middle-distance running
| club = Ilford AC
| birth_date = {{birth date|1934|2|22|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Horfield, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|2|22|1934|2|22|df=y}}
| death_place = Kent, England
| height =165 cm
| weight =60 kg
}}
Phyllis Else Maureen Perkins ({{née}} Green; 22 February 1934 – 22 February 2023) was a British middle-distance runner who competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pe/phyllis-perkins-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418042850/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pe/phyllis-perkins-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Phyllis Perkins Olympic Results |accessdate=16 October 2017}}
Biography
Under her maiden name of Green, she finished third behind Margaret Taylor in the 440 yards event at the 1952 WAAA Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=15 February 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004941/19520615/272/0010 |title=Dorothy Tyler changes style and shocks world champion |work=Sunday Express |date=15 June 1952 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 February 2025 }} before becoming the national 1 mile champion after winning the British WAAA Championships title at the 1954 WAAA Championships.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000844/19540620/159/0018 |title=Diane is a Real Smasher |work=Sunday Mirror |date=20 June 1954 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=16 February 2025 }}
Perins retained her 1 mile title at the 1955 WAAA Championships{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000729/19550703/184/0016 |title=Margaret Doubles To It - Loses Record |work=The People |date=3 July 1955 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=19 February 2025 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (women) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=15 February 2025 }} and won the 880 yards title at the 1956 WAAA Championships.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004941/19560812/285/0012 |title=Girl of 19 beats world record |work=Sunday Express |date=12 August 1956 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=19 February 2025 }}
At the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, she represented Great Britain in the women's 800 metres.
Perkins finished second behind Joy Jordan at the 1962 WAAA Championships{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001816/19620708/031/0031 |title=Golden girls serve up a record rush |work=Birmingham Weekly Mercury |date=8 July 1962 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 February 2025 }} and shortly afterwards represented England in the 880 yards at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia.{{cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/40985|title=Athletes and results|publisher=Commonwealth Games Federation|access-date=30 July 2019|archive-date=30 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730212145/https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/40985|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/perth-1962/athletes|title=1962 Athletes|publisher=Team England}}
Perkins won another WAAA title at the 1963 WAAA Championships.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19630707/286/0030 |title=Dorothy's Dinner Double |work=Sunday Mirror |date=7 July 1963 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 February 2025 }}
Perkins died on 22 February 2023, her 89th birthday.{{cite news |last1=Henderson |first1=Jason |title=World record-breaking middle-distance runner Phyllis Perkins dies |url=https://athleticsweekly.com/athletics-news/world-record-breaking-middle-distance-runner-phyllis-perkins-dies-1039965643/ |access-date=2 March 2023 |publisher=Athletics Weekly |date=1 March 2023}}[https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68753 Phyllis Perkins]
References
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Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1960 Summer Olympics
Category:English female middle-distance runners
Category:British female middle-distance runners
Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for England
Category:Athletes from Bristol
Category:20th-century British sportswomen
Category:20th-century English sportswomen
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