from the Athletics Australia website
05.01.2007
Vale Ken Lorraway (1956-2007)
Athletics Australia and the athletics community today mourn the passing of Australian and Oceania triple jump record holder Ken Lorraway, who died suddenly from a suspected heart attack yesterday.
Ken Lorraway will be fondly remembered as a feisty competitor, who has tough and stubborn, but enormously respected. He remains Australia’s best triple jumper – still holding the Australian and Oceania record of 17.46m set in London on 7 August 1982.
Ken came through the junior ranks with the North Canberra Athletic Club and then competed for Belconnen Striders until his retirement.
From 1974-78 Ken attended the Southern Illinois University in the United States on an athletic scholarship and in 1978 was selected as an All American.
In 1978 Ken competed at the Edmonton Commonwealth Games where he placed 4th in the triple jump and 8th in the Long Jump. Ken represented Australia at two Olympic Games. At the Moscow Olympics in 1980 he was a finalist in the triple jump alongside Ian Campbell, with Lorraway finishing in 8th place and Campbell 5th in a controversial final.
He also competed at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 where he did not qualify for the final and placed 6th in at the IAAF World Cup in Rome in 1981.
He won five consecutive national triple jump titles between 1980 and 1984
The highlight of Ken's career in the eyes of many track and field fans came at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games when he won a silver medal in the triple jump with a leap of 17.54 metres (wind assisted). In a tremendous duel, former Athletics Australia head coach Keith Connor, competing for England, took out the title with a leap of 17.81m.
Ken was still actively involved in athletics, coaching junior athletes in Canberra and was regularly took up his position on the hill at the AIS track.
Ken married 1982 Commonwealth Games long jump silver medalist Robin Strong following the Brisbane Games. Robin finished 6th in the Los Angeles Olympics and formerly held the Australian record.
Ken was 50 and is survived by his beloved family - wife Robin and sons Alex (17) and Sebastian (14) and daughter Madeline (11). All are heavily involved in sport, with Alex a talented triple jumper and basketballer, likewise Seb who enjoys basketball, athletics and football and Madeline who is a talented young basketballer.
Athletics Australia extends deepest sympathies to Ken’s family.
Footnote: from the Canberra Times, Sunday 07 January. Click to enlarge.
05.01.2007
Vale Ken Lorraway (1956-2007)
Athletics Australia and the athletics community today mourn the passing of Australian and Oceania triple jump record holder Ken Lorraway, who died suddenly from a suspected heart attack yesterday.
Ken Lorraway will be fondly remembered as a feisty competitor, who has tough and stubborn, but enormously respected. He remains Australia’s best triple jumper – still holding the Australian and Oceania record of 17.46m set in London on 7 August 1982.
Ken came through the junior ranks with the North Canberra Athletic Club and then competed for Belconnen Striders until his retirement.
From 1974-78 Ken attended the Southern Illinois University in the United States on an athletic scholarship and in 1978 was selected as an All American.
In 1978 Ken competed at the Edmonton Commonwealth Games where he placed 4th in the triple jump and 8th in the Long Jump. Ken represented Australia at two Olympic Games. At the Moscow Olympics in 1980 he was a finalist in the triple jump alongside Ian Campbell, with Lorraway finishing in 8th place and Campbell 5th in a controversial final.
He also competed at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 where he did not qualify for the final and placed 6th in at the IAAF World Cup in Rome in 1981.
He won five consecutive national triple jump titles between 1980 and 1984
The highlight of Ken's career in the eyes of many track and field fans came at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games when he won a silver medal in the triple jump with a leap of 17.54 metres (wind assisted). In a tremendous duel, former Athletics Australia head coach Keith Connor, competing for England, took out the title with a leap of 17.81m.
Ken was still actively involved in athletics, coaching junior athletes in Canberra and was regularly took up his position on the hill at the AIS track.
Ken married 1982 Commonwealth Games long jump silver medalist Robin Strong following the Brisbane Games. Robin finished 6th in the Los Angeles Olympics and formerly held the Australian record.
Ken was 50 and is survived by his beloved family - wife Robin and sons Alex (17) and Sebastian (14) and daughter Madeline (11). All are heavily involved in sport, with Alex a talented triple jumper and basketballer, likewise Seb who enjoys basketball, athletics and football and Madeline who is a talented young basketballer.
Athletics Australia extends deepest sympathies to Ken’s family.
Footnote: from the Canberra Times, Sunday 07 January. Click to enlarge.
