The 1959 British West Indies Championships was the third edition of the track and field competition between British colony nations in the Caribbean. It was held in Georgetown in British Guiana on 8 and 9 August. A total of 27 events were contested, twenty-one by men and six by women. This was the first time that women had been able to compete at the event. Three new men's events were added to the programme: 3000 metres steeplechase, half marathon, and the 3000 metres walk. The latter two were the first road running and racewalking events to be included.British West Indies Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2015-03-21.
For a third time running, George de Peana of British Guiana won both the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres titles, remaining undefeated at the tournament. Aside from de Peana, Ralph Gomes was the only other athlete to defend his title from the 1958 edition, doing so in the 1500 metres. George Kerr rose to prominence with a 400 metres and 800 metres double – distances he would win Olympic medals in a year later.George Kerr. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2015-03-22. In the women's section, the British Guiana team were dominant, being led by double individual sprint medallist Myrna Fawcett.
Also among the gold medallists was Antigua's Lester Bird, winner of the long jump here, who would later go on to be the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda (succeeding his father, Vere Bird).Former Prime Minister Lester Bird to be confered [sic] the Honour of National Hero of Antigua and Barbuda. Caribarena (2014-11-01). Retrieved on 2015-03-21. Triple jump medallist Wendell Mottley also became involved in politics later in his life, serving as Trinidad and Tobago's Finance Minister, and high jumper Anton Norris was another athlete in the field to become a prominent economist in the region.Wendell Mottley. Ivy League. Retrieved on 2015-03-22.Wendell Mottley. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2015-03-22.E. Anton Norris, MBA . One Caribbean. Retrieved on 2015-03-22.
Medal summary Men 100 metres 10.4 ??? ???200 metres 21.4 ??? ???400 metres 46.8 ??? ???800 metres 1:53.6 ??? ???1500 metres 3:54.7 ??? ???5000 metres 15:02.0 ??? ???10,000 metres 31:58.6 ??? ???110 m hurdles 14.4 ??? ???400 m hurdles 53.4 ??? ???3000 metres steeplechase 10:31.0 ??? ???4×100 m relay 42.2 ??? ???4×400 m relay1959 Year list Mal SpenceThomasMel SpenceGeorge Kerr 3:09.5 ??? ???Half marathon 1:10:33Unknown athlete ???Unknown athlete ???3000 metres track walk 15:19.2 ??? ???High jump 2.01 m 1.90 m 1.90 mPole vault 3.64 m 3.50 m 3.50 mLong jump 7.50 m 7.19 m 7.01 mTriple jump 14.74 m 14.48 m 14.20 mShot put 13.69 m 13.35 m ??? mDiscus throw 38.61 m ??? m ??? mJavelin throw 52.39 m ??? m ??? m
Women 100 metres 12.2 ??? ???200 metres 25.2 ??? ???80 m hurdles 13.0 ??? ???4×100 m relay 49.9 ??? ???High jump 1.47 m 1.47 m 1.42 mLong jump 5.46 m 5.07 m 4.96 m
References
Medallists British West Indies Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2015-03-21.