Pam Kilborn

Pamela Kilborn, née Pamela Ryan, AM, MBE (12 August 1939) is an Australian former athlete who set world records as a hurdler. For three years, she was ranked as the world's top woman hurdler.

Kilborn was also an Olympic class sprinter, Long Jumper and pentathlete, and loved shot put, she also won a total of 17 individual Australian Championships between 1962 and 1972.

Career Early career Kilborn was born on 12 August 1939 in Melbourne. She began competing in athletics there during the late 1950s. She competed for the University High School team, under coach Henri Schubert alongside her good friend Judy Amoore (later Pollock).

In 1960 she attempted to gain selection for the 1960 Summer Olympics but could only place third in the Australian Championships with only the first two athletes chosen. She was reputedly so ill during these Championships that she had to be assisted on the medal dais. in the world, respectively, at the end of the year.

International career At the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Western Australia, Kilborn became one of the stars of the Games, upsetting world-record holder Betty Moore in the 80 m hurdles race before winning the long jump contest ahead of two countrywomen Helen Frith (silver) and Janet Knee (bronze).

At the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica she won gold medals in 80 m hurdles and 4x110 yards relay. and could not overcome her surprising teenage countrywoman Maureen Caird in the rain-affected final. She won silver in the 80 metre hurdles.

After a brief retirement, she returned to the track and won the British 200 and 200 metres hurdles WAAA Championships titles at the 1972 WAAA Championships and then had one last Olympic campaign in 1972. She set a World Record of 12.5 (12.93 automatic timing) shortly before the 1972 Olympics in Munich, but could only run fourth in the Olympic final.

Honours Kilborn was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1971 New Year Honours for services in sporting and international spheres, and a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2008. She was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985 and received a Centenary Medal in 2001.

Statistics National Records Kilborn set multiple Australian records in seven different events during her career: 80 metre hurdles, 100 metres hurdles, 200 metres hurdles, Long Jump, Pentathlon, 4 x 200 metres relay, and 4 x 220 yards relay.

World Records

Over 80 metres hurdles, Kilborn set two official world records in 1964 and 1965.

In the 100 metres hurdles, she set one official world record at Warsaw on 28 June 1972.

At 200 m hurdles, Kilborn-Ryan set four official world records between 1969 and 1971, with a best of 25.7.

In team events, she set a world record for 4 x 220 yards relay of 1:35.8 in Brisbane on 9 November 1969, teaming with Raelene Boyle, Jenny Lamy and Marion Hoffman.

Personal Bests Event Time Wind Place Date 100 m 11.50 +0.6 Mexico City, Mexico 14 October 1968 80 m Hurdles 10.4 – Melbourne 6 February 1965 100 m Hurdles 12.5 +0.9 Warsaw, Poland 28 June 1972 200 m Hurdles 25.7 – Melbourne 25 November 1971 Long Jump 6.24m – Melbourne 21 May 1966

World Rankings – Hurdles and Long Jump

Year Event Ranking 1961 80 m Hurdles 4 Long Jump 10 1962 80 m Hurdles 2 Long Jump 9 1963 80 m Hurdles 1 1964 80 m Hurdles 3 1965 80 m Hurdles 1 1966 80 m Hurdles 1 1967 80 m Hurdles 1 1968 80 m Hurdles 2 1969 80 m Hurdles 2 1970 100 m Hurdles 4 1972 100 m Hurdles 4

Australian Championships Record – prior to 1963 Championships were held every two years Year 100 yds/metres 80 m Hurdles 100 m Hurdles 200 m Hurdles Long Jump Pentathlon 1960 – 3 – – – – 1962 DNQ 5 – – 1 – 1963 6 1 – – 1 1 1964 6 1 – – 1 – 1965 2 1 – – 3 – 1966 6 1 – – 2 – 1967 4 1 – – 1 1 1968 2 1 1 – 2 1 1969 4 1 1 – 2 – 1970 5 – 2 2 – – 1971 – – – – – – 1972 5 2 1 – – –