Rand, Mary (1940–)

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Rand, Mary (1940–)

English track-and-field athlete. Name variations: Mary Toomey. Born Mary Denise Bignal, Feb 10, 1940, in Wells, Somerset, England; married, 1960; m. Bill Toomey (American decathlon champion), 1969; children: Alison (b. 1962).

Broke the British national record in the pentathlon with 4,046 points (1957); won a silver medal (1958) and a gold medal (1966), both for long jump at Commonwealth Games; won a bronze medal for long jump at European championships (1962); shared the world record in the 4 × 100 relay (1963); won a gold medal for long jump, a silver for pentathlon, and a team bronze for the 4 × 100-meter relay at Tokyo Olympics (1964); retired (1968). Named MBE.

See also Women in World History.