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Doris Nelson Neal

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Doris Nelson Neal
Born1908
Died1982
NationalityBritish
Occupationathletics coach

Dorothy Nelson Neal OBE (1908–1982) was influential in the early days of women's athletics in Great Britain.[1]

Neal was a high-ranking member of Birchfield Harriers athletics club for 53 years, and is recognised as one of the main and most respected characters in the club's history.

Birchfield Harriers Ladies training at Perry Barr in 1929

She competed as an athlete before taking up coaching[2] and is recognised as the first female to coach a female athlete to a World Record, having been the coach of Diane Leather when she became the first women to run the mile in under five minutes.

Neal was an official at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.

She was awarded the OBE for services to athletics, and a stand at Alexander Stadium is named after her.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Biography: Doris Nelson Neal OBE". Archived from the original on 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
  2. ^ "Diane Leather to Run for Club on Saturday". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 1955-05-25. p. 31. Retrieved 2022-03-22.