# Trevor Vincent

Trevor Anthony Vincent, OAM (born 27 April 1938) is a former Australian long-distance runner, specialising in the 3000 metres steeplechase. In 1962 he competed for his native country at the Commonwealth Games in Perth, Western Australia, winning the gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase event, setting an inaugural Commonwealth Games record and breaking his own Australian record. He also competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan in the 3000 metres steeplechase event.

## Early life and family

Trevor Vincent was born 27 April 1938 in Armadale, Victoria.
Trevor has a wife Lois and three sons: Greg, Gary and Brett. He also has eight grandchildren: Rachel, Nicholas, Marcus, Sarah, Kate, Zahli, Rhiannon and Ebony.

## Athletic career

In 1962 Vincent competed for Australia at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Western Australia, winning the gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase event with a time of 8:43.4 seconds, setting an inaugural Commonwealth Games record and breaking his own Australian record of 8:49.2. The race was staged at Perry Lakes Stadium in Floreat, Western Australia on 24 November. Vincent won by 15 yards ahead of the favoured Englishmen Maurice Herriott and fellow countryman Ron Blackney who won the bronze medal. In the lead up to the Perth games, Vincent trained alongside Olympian Ron Clarke and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Rod Bonella at Caulfield Racecourse, running up to 160 km a week.
He also competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan in the 3000m steeplechase event. Vincent set a time of 8:58.8 seconds, placing 8th, however failing to qualify for the final after being hampered by injury.
Trevor competed in numerous Australian National Athletic Championships, having continued success in the 3000 metres steeplechase event, 5000 metres and 1500 metres. He also attended the 1963 Australian Cross Country Championships, winning the gold medal in the 10 km event.

### Personal bests

| Event | Time | Location | Date | Note |
| Marathon | 2:26:13 | Melbourne, Australia | 1970-09-26 | 1970 Melbourne Marathon |
| 10K run | 29:12.6 | Melbourne, Australia | 1963-09-15 | Beating his previous personal best set in 1961 |
| 3000 m Steeplechase | 8:38.9 GR | Perth, Western Australia | 1962-11-24 | 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games |
| 2 miles | 8:47.4 | Melbourne, Australia | 1962-09-01 | |
| 10K run | 30:56 | Melbourne, Australia | 1961-12-18 | |

## Competition record
### International competitions

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| Representing Australia ||||||
| 1962 | Commonwealth Games | Perth, Western Australia | 1st | 3000 metres steeplechase | 8:43.4 |
| 1964 | Summer Olympics | Tokyo, Japan | | 3000 metres steeplechase | 8:58.8 |

### National championships

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event |
| 1958 | Australian Championships | Sydney, New South Wales | 2nd | 3000 metres steeplechase |
| 1959 | Australian Championships | Melbourne, Victoria | 3rd | 3000 metres steeplechase |
| 1961 | Australian Championships | Brisbane, Queensland | 1st | 1 mile |
| 1961 | Australian Championships | Sydney, New South Wales | 1st | 3000 metres steeplechase |
| 1962 | Australian Championships | Sydney, New South Wales | 1st | 3000 metres steeplechase |
| 1963 | Australian Championships | Adelaide, South Australia | 2nd | 1 mile |
| 1963 | Australian Championships | Adelaide, South Australia | 1st | 3-mile |
| 1963 | Australian Championships | Adelaide, South Australia | 2nd | 3000 metres steeplechase |
| 1963 | Australian Cross Country Championship | Adelaide, South Australia | 3rd | 10,000 metres |
| 1964 | Australian Championships | Melbourne, Victoria | 1st | 3000 metres steeplechase |
| 1965 | Australian Championships | Hobart, Tasmania | 2nd | 1 mile |
| 1965 | Australian Championships | Hobart, Tasmania | 3rd | 3-mile |
| 1965 | Australian Championships | Hobart, Tasmania | 1st | 3000 metres steeplechase |

## Personal life

Vincent was part of the Olympic Torch Relay for the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. He was also a part of the Queen's Baton Relay for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, as well as the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Vincent has been awarded an Australian Sports Medal in 2000, and the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to athletics in 2008.
As at 2024, Trevor coaches a Glenhuntly Athletics Club, Melbourne.