Harry Jerome. (B.C. Sports Hall of Fame)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Superb Athlete

Black History Month: P.A. athlete who once held world record in 100 metre dash

Feb 9, 2023 | 5:01 PM

Before Donovan Bailey set the world record in the 100-metre dash, there were two other Canadians who could say they were the fastest person alive, and one was from Prince Albert.

paNOW is recognizing Black individuals who’ve left their mark on the community in honour of Black History Month with one of those people being Harry Jerome.

Born in 1940, he and his family moved to Vancouver in 1951.

Despite only living in Saskatchewan for about 11 years, Jerome would make a huge impact on the provincial track and field scene. In 1960, at the Canadian Olympic Trials in Saskatoon, he finished the 100-metre dash with a time of 10.0 seconds which officially tied the world record set earlier that year by a German sprinter.

“It’s a huge accomplishment,” said Dennis Ogrodnick, a Prince Albert historian. “He’s somebody to really celebrate.”

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Muhammed Ali (left) speaking with Harry Jerome (right). (harryjerome.com)

At the time, he was the second Canadian to set this World Record after Percy Williams did so in 1930.

As impressive as this was, Ogrodnick believes there was at least one feat Jerome was able to accomplish which was even more impressive.

“At the 64 Olympics in Tokyo, he won bronze, and he was injured at the time,” he said.

Despite the injury, he was still able to post a time of 10.2 seconds.

Meanwhile, the city of Prince Albert is still proud of the fact it’s Jerome’s original home.

The track at Prime Minister’s Park was named after the athlete in 1992. Along with holding annual school tournaments, the Harry Jerome Track has played host to different provincial championships.

Prince Albert Herald article from 1992. (Prince Albert Historical Society)

For Ogrodnick, this recognition and everything Jerome was able to accomplish solidified him as one of Prince Albert’s greatest athletes.

“He’s one of the greatest and there’s many (athletes),” he said.

Some of the others he mentioned include NHL hall of famer Johnny Bower, Paralympic athlete Brittany Hudak, and boxer Tom Settee.

Jerome would, unfortunately, pass away in 1982 from a brain aneurysm at the age of 42. Despite this, his legacy lives on in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and across the country.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow