Jane Colebrook
Encyclopedia
Katrina Jane Colebrook (born 8 November 1957), known as Jane Colebrook and Jane Finch during her career, is a former British middle distance runner who specialised in the 800 metres
. She equalled the world record to win at the 1977 European Athletics Indoor Championships and later won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games
and a silver medal at the IAAF World Indoor Games.
She started out as a sprinter and won the under-15s 200 metres
race at the 1972 Amateur Athletics Association Junior Championships. She stepped up to longer distances over the next two years, winning both indoor and outdoor under-17s title in the 400 metres
and 800 metres
. She was the winner of the intermediate 800 m race at the 1974 English Schools Championships. In December 1976 she ran a British indoor junior record of 2:05.0 minutes for the 800 m (later bettered by Kirsty Wade
in 1981).
Colebrook had her greatest achievement at the 1977 European Athletics Indoor Championships at the age of nineteen, where after qualifying for the final as one of the fastest losers she went on to beat Totka Petrova
to win the 800 m gold medal
with a world indoor record-equalling time of 2:01.1 minutes. This time was a British indoor record
for 26 years, becoming the longest-standing British record at one point, and was improved upon by Kelly Holmes
in 2003. It remains the fastest ever time by a female British under-23 runner. That July, she ran her lifetime best for the 800 m outdoors in Oulu
, Finland, clocking a time of 2:00.6 minutes, which made her the second best British performer in the event at that point, behind Rosemary Stirling. Colebrook also won the women's title at the North of England Cross Country Championships that year.
She won a 400/800 m double at the UK Athletics Championships in 1978. Colebrook went on to represent England in the latter event at the 1978 Commonwealth Games
and won the bronze medal
behind Judy Peckham and Tekla Chemabwai
. She won the final major medal of her career at the 1985 IAAF World Indoor Games
, where she took the 800 m silver medal
behind the Romanian Olympic medallist Cristieana Cojocaru. She brought her professional career to a close in order to focus on her family and raising her three children. She returned to competition as a masters athlete and won the over-35s 1500 metres
title at the European Veterans Indoor Championships.
In her later career she was known under her married name Finch. She was later divorced, competing as Jane Colebrook again, and then remarried and ran as Jane Weston. She was coached by Dave Sunderland. Her sister, Teena Colebrook, was also a runner and won seven NCAA Division II titles in middle distance events for California Polytechnic State University
.
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
. She equalled the world record to win at the 1977 European Athletics Indoor Championships and later won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
and a silver medal at the IAAF World Indoor Games.
She started out as a sprinter and won the under-15s 200 metres
200 metres
A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first...
race at the 1972 Amateur Athletics Association Junior Championships. She stepped up to longer distances over the next two years, winning both indoor and outdoor under-17s title in the 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
and 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
. She was the winner of the intermediate 800 m race at the 1974 English Schools Championships. In December 1976 she ran a British indoor junior record of 2:05.0 minutes for the 800 m (later bettered by Kirsty Wade
Kirsty Wade
Kirsty Wade is a former middle distance runner, who was born as Kirsty McDermott.Wade competed for Wales in two Commonwealth Games winning a gold medal in the 800 metres at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia and gold medals in both the 800 and 1500 metres at the 1986 Commonwealth...
in 1981).
Colebrook had her greatest achievement at the 1977 European Athletics Indoor Championships at the age of nineteen, where after qualifying for the final as one of the fastest losers she went on to beat Totka Petrova
Totka Petrova
Totka Nikolaeva Petrova is a retired female middle distance runner who represented Bulgaria in the 1970s and the early 1980s. She specialized in the 800 and 1500 metres, and won numerous international medals. She is still the Bulgarian 1500 metres record holder.-Career:She was born in Yambol, and...
to win the 800 m gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
with a world indoor record-equalling time of 2:01.1 minutes. This time was a British indoor record
British records in athletics
British records in athletics are the best performances in athletics events by athletes representing the United Kingdom which are ratified by the Amateur Athletic Association and the British Amateur Athletic Board .-History:...
for 26 years, becoming the longest-standing British record at one point, and was improved upon by Kelly Holmes
Kelly Holmes
Dame Kelly Holmes, DBE, MBE is a retired British middle distance athlete. She specialised in the 800 metres and 1500 metres events and won a gold medal for both distances at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens...
in 2003. It remains the fastest ever time by a female British under-23 runner. That July, she ran her lifetime best for the 800 m outdoors in Oulu
Oulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
, Finland, clocking a time of 2:00.6 minutes, which made her the second best British performer in the event at that point, behind Rosemary Stirling. Colebrook also won the women's title at the North of England Cross Country Championships that year.
She won a 400/800 m double at the UK Athletics Championships in 1978. Colebrook went on to represent England in the latter event at the 1978 Commonwealth Games
Athletics at the 1978 Commonwealth Games
At the 1978 Commonwealth Games, the athletics events were held at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Canada. A total of 38 events were contested, of which 23 by male and 15 by female athletes.-Men:-Women:-Medal table:Key:-References:...
and won the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
behind Judy Peckham and Tekla Chemabwai
Tekla Chemabwai
Tekla Chemabwai is retired sprinter and middle-distance runner from Kenya.Chemabwai competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics, but did not advance past 400 metres heats. Aged 18, she was the youngest member of the Kenyan Olympic squad...
. She won the final major medal of her career at the 1985 IAAF World Indoor Games
1985 IAAF World Indoor Games
The World Indoor Games were arranged by the IAAF and held at the Palais Omnisports Paris-Bercy in Paris, France from January 18 to January 19, 1985. In 1987 the championship was renamed to the World Indoor Championships. There were a total number of 319 participating athletes from 69...
, where she took the 800 m silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
behind the Romanian Olympic medallist Cristieana Cojocaru. She brought her professional career to a close in order to focus on her family and raising her three children. She returned to competition as a masters athlete and won the over-35s 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
title at the European Veterans Indoor Championships.
In her later career she was known under her married name Finch. She was later divorced, competing as Jane Colebrook again, and then remarried and ran as Jane Weston. She was coached by Dave Sunderland. Her sister, Teena Colebrook, was also a runner and won seven NCAA Division II titles in middle distance events for California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
.