Colonel William A. Phillips

Iris LaVerne Davis-Hicks (April 30, 1950 – September 18, 2021)[1] was an American track and field sprinter who specialized in the 100-meter dash. She was the 1971 Pan American Games champion in that event and also won a gold medal in the 4 × 100-meter relay.[2] She represented the United States at the 1972 Munich Olympics and twice narrowly missed out on a medal: first in the 100 m, placing fourth behind Cuba's Silvia Chivás, then in the relay, where Chivás again outsprinted her to bronze on the final leg.[3]

Davis was born in an African-American family in Pompano Beach, Florida.[3] Nationally she was a four-time champion: twice in the 100 m (1971, 1973) and twice in the 60-meter dash (1972, 1973). She was runner-up in the 100-yard dash in 1969 and 1970, and also had top three placings in the 100 m at the 1972 Olympic trials and the 1972 outdoor championships.[4][5][6]

She was a member of the Tigerbelles collegiate team for Tennessee State University, which had a strong history of women's sprinting including double Olympic champion Wyomia Tyus.[7]

International competitions

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
1971 Pan American Games Cali, Colombia 1st 100 m 11.25w
1st 4 × 100 m relay 44.59
1972 Olympic Games Munich, Germany 4th 100 m 11.32
4th 4 × 100 m relay 43.39

National titles

See also

References

  1. ^ Iris Davis' obituary
  2. ^ Pan American Games. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-02-14.
  3. ^ a b Iris Davis Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2016-02-14.
  4. ^ Iris Davis. Track and Field Brinkster. Retrieved on 2016-02-14.
  5. ^ USA Championships Women Indoor. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-02-14.
  6. ^ United States Championships (Women). GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-02-14.
  7. ^ Tigerbelles to host 2nd Annual Homecoming Reunion, Announces 2009-10 Schedule. TSUTigers (2009-11-06). Retrieved on 2016-02-14.