Trevor Vincent

Trevor Anthony Vincent, OAM (born 27 April 1938) is a former Australian long-distance runner, specialising in the 3000 metres steeplechase. In 1962 he competed for his native country at the Commonwealth Games in Perth, Western Australia, winning the gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase event, setting an inaugural Commonwealth Games record and breaking his own Australian record. He also competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan in the 3000 metres steeplechase event.

Trevor Vincent

OAM

Personal information
Nickname	TV
Nationality	Australian
Born	Trevor Anthony Vincent 27 April 1938 (1938-04-27) (age 87) Armadale, Victoria
Height	174 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	64 kg (141 lb)
Sport
Country	Australia
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	3000 metres steeplechase, 1500 metres, 5000 metres
Club	Glenhuntly Athletics Club
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  Australia Athletic Championships Event 1st 2nd 3rd Commonwealth Games 1 0 0 Australian National Championships 6 4 2 Total 7 4 2 Commonwealth Games 1962 Perth 3000 m steeplechase Australian National Championships 1958 Brisbane 3000 m steeplechase 1959 Hobart 3000 m steeplechase 1961 Brisbane 1500 m 1961 Brisbane 3000 m steeplechase 1962 Sydney 3000 m steeplechase 1963 Adelaide 5000 m 1963 Adelaide 1500 m 1963 Adelaide 3000 m steeplechase 1964 Melbourne 3000 m steeplechase 1965 Hobart 3000 m steeplechase 1965 Hobart 1500 m 1965 Hobart 5000 m

Early life and family

Trevor Vincent was born 27 April 1938 in Armadale, Victoria.

Trevor has a wife Lois and three sons: Greg, Gary and Brett. He also has eight grandchildren: Rachel, Nicholas, Marcus, Sarah, Kate, Zahli, Rhiannon and Ebony.

Athletic career

In 1962 Vincent competed for Australia at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Western Australia, winning the gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase event with a time of 8:43.4 seconds, setting an inaugural Commonwealth Games record and breaking his own Australian record of 8:49.2. The race was staged at Perry Lakes Stadium in Floreat, Western Australia on 24 November. Vincent won by 15 yards ahead of the favoured Englishmen Maurice Herriott and fellow countryman Ron Blackney who won the bronze medal.^[1] In the lead up to the Perth games, Vincent trained alongside Olympian Ron Clarke and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Rod Bonella at Caulfield Racecourse, running up to 160 km a week.^[2]

He also competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan in the 3000m steeplechase event. Vincent set a time of 8:58.8 seconds, placing 8th, however failing to qualify for the final after being hampered by injury.

Trevor competed in numerous Australian National Athletic Championships, having continued success in the 3000 metres steeplechase event, 5000 metres and 1500 metres. He also attended the 1963 Australian Cross Country Championships, winning the gold medal in the 10 km event.

Personal bests

Event	Time	Location	Date	Note
Marathon	2:26:13	Melbourne, Australia	1970-09-26[3]	1970 Melbourne Marathon
10K run	29:12.6	Melbourne, Australia	1963-09-15[3]	Beating his previous personal best set in 1961
3000 m Steeplechase	8:38.9 GR	Perth, Western Australia	1962-11-24[3]	1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
2 miles	8:47.4	Melbourne, Australia	1962-09-01[3]
10K run	30:56	Melbourne, Australia	1961-12-18[3]

Competition record

International competitions

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  Australia
1962	Commonwealth Games	Perth, Western Australia	1st	3000 metres steeplechase	8:43.4
1964	Summer Olympics	Tokyo, Japan		3000 metres steeplechase	8:58.8

National championships

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event
1958	Australian Championships	Sydney, New South Wales	2nd	3000 metres steeplechase
1959	Australian Championships	Melbourne, Victoria	3rd	3000 metres steeplechase
1961	Australian Championships	Brisbane, Queensland	1st	1 mile
1961	Australian Championships	Sydney, New South Wales	1st	3000 metres steeplechase
1962	Australian Championships	Sydney, New South Wales	1st	3000 metres steeplechase
1963	Australian Championships	Adelaide, South Australia	2nd	1 mile
1963	Australian Championships	Adelaide, South Australia	1st	3-mile
1963	Australian Championships	Adelaide, South Australia	2nd	3000 metres steeplechase
1963	Australian Cross Country Championship	Adelaide, South Australia	3rd	10,000 metres
1964	Australian Championships	Melbourne, Victoria	1st	3000 metres steeplechase
1965	Australian Championships	Hobart, Tasmania	2nd	1 mile
1965	Australian Championships	Hobart, Tasmania	3rd	3-mile
1965	Australian Championships	Hobart, Tasmania	1st	3000 metres steeplechase

Personal life

Vincent was part of the Olympic Torch Relay for the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. He was also a part of the Queen's Baton Relay for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, as well as the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Vincent has been awarded an Australian Sports Medal in 2000, and the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to athletics in 2008.

As at 2024, Trevor coaches a Glenhuntly Athletics Club, Melbourne.

See also

• Olympic medalists in athletics
• Athletics at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase
• 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
• 1964 Summer Olympics