Heather HUNTE-OAKES

Heather Hunte emerged as a new talent in the 1979 when she won the sprint double at the UK Championships, the 100 m at the Women's AAA meeting and anchored the European select team to victory in the 4×100 relay at the 1979 IAAF World Cup. After retaining her national 100 metre title in 1980 she reached the Olympic 100 final in Moscow, placing eighth, and later won a bronze medal by being the lead-off runner in the sprint relay. After an injury hit 1981 season she made the final of the 100 metres at the 1982 Commonwealth Games and the semi-finals of the 1983 World Championships. The Olympic year of 1984 turned into a near copy of the 1980 season as once again she helped the British relay squad to the bronze medal after reaching the final of the individual 100. Heather showed form on the indoor circuit in early 1985 and followed up a third place finish at the European Indoor Championships with a silver medal at the World Indoor Games. Her last season in serious athletics was ironically her most successful as in 1986 she won both the 100 metres and sprint relay titles in the boycott hit Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. She married fellow Olympic medallist Gary Oakes in October 1981.

Personal Best: 100 – 11.20 (1980).