Sport Athletics Event(s) 100 m | Name Thelma Kench | |
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Born 19 February 1914 Palmerston North, New Zealand Died March 25, 1985, Wellington, New Zealand | ||
Personal best(s) 100 m – 12.4 (1930) | ||
Thelma Kench later Irion (19 February 1914 – 25 March 1985) was a New Zealand sprinter who competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
She competed in the 100 m and held the national title in 1930–1932. Her time equalled the world record, and she was at 16 the youngest to hold the title. She was described as "nuggetty with massive legs".
Her selection had some drama. The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association (NZAAA) selectors recommended three athletes for the 1932 Olympics, but because of the extra cost of a chaperone none were women. The NZAAA decided to nominate her, but as the New Zealand Olympic & Commonwealth Games Association (NZOCGA) only had funds to send three, the fourth would be sent at the expense of the NZAAA. So the Wellington branch of the NZAAA raised £120 for her, although the Otago branch could not raise £50 for Jack Lovelock. In the Olympic semifinals of the 100 m race in Los Angeles she was third after 50 m but dropped back to sixth.
She was born in Palmerston North, and moved to Wanganui. She retired from running at 19 in 1933. She married John Irion in 1939, and subsequently lived in Wellington.