THIS STORY APPEARED FIRST ON THE IAAF WEBSITE (www.iaaf.org)
Jamaica’s Olympic legend Herb McKenley will become only the second Olympian in the island’s history to have a street named in his honour.
The 82-year-old, who won Olympic silver medals in the 100m in 1952, and at 400 metres in 1948 and 1952, and was also a member of the World record breaking 1952 Olympic gold medal-winning 4x400 metres team, will be honoured at a function in Kingston on 27 November 2004.
Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie made the announcement on Tuesday.
“By unanimous vote, it was decided to rename a street in Kingston after Herb McKenley for his outstanding contribution to Jamaica’s Track and Field as an athlete and as an administrator,” said McKenzie.
McKenley, whose recent health problems prevented him from attending this year’s Olympics for the first time since 1948, was hospitalised earlier this year for a hip fracture after falling at his St Andrew home.
The renamed Herb McKenley Avenue will lead directly onto Arthur Wint Drive, named after the only other Jamaican Olympian to be accorded that privilege.
Wint was the first Jamaican to win gold at the Olympics when he won the 1948 400m crown and also took the silver in the 800m. He also took the 800m in 1952 and a team-mate of McKinley in the 1952 gold winning relay squad.
Both Herb McKenley Avenue and Arthur Wint Drive lead directly to the country’s national stadium.