Tanya Blake

Tanya Blake
Personal information
Full nameTanya-Gee Blake
Nationality United Kingdom
 Malta
Born (1971-01-16) 16 January 1971 (age 53)
London, England,
United Kingdom
Height1.67 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Weight58 kg (128 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
EventMiddle-distance running
ClubZurrieq Wolves
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)800 m: 1:59.56 (2003)
1500 m: 4:29.01 (2003)

Tanya-Gee Blake (born 16 January 1971 in London, England, United Kingdom) is a retired middle-distance runner, who specialized in the 800 metres. Born in England, she represented Malta internationally.[1] Holding a dual citizenship to compete internationally, Blake set a historic milestone as the first Maltese athlete to break a two-minute barrier and a national record in the 800 metres at the 2003 Prefontaine Classic Grand Prix in Eugene, Oregon, United States, that guaranteed her a spot on her adopted nation's team for the 2004 Summer Olympics.[2][3] During her athletic career, Blake trained for the Zurrieq Wolves track and field team.[4]

Blake qualified for the Maltese squad in the women's 800 metres at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, by registering her career best and an A-standard entry time of 1:59.56 from the Prefontaine Classic.[2][5][6] Unable to flaunt her stellar race from the Grand Prix a year earlier, Blake posted outside her national record of 2:19.34, but failed to advance further into the semifinals, as she was the last runner to cross the finish line in heat six.[7][8]

Personal life

Blake was born in England to a Maltese mother and American father.[9]

References

  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Tanya Blake". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Small teams, large ambitions – Malta and Uganda in Paris". IAAF. 20 August 2003. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  3. ^ "Tanya Blake sets new 800m mark in Oregon meet". Times of Malta. 26 May 2003. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  4. ^ "Early edge for Pembroke teams". Times of Malta. 15 July 2003. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Blake books World Championships and Olympics berths". Times of Malta. 27 May 2003. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Tanya Blake - the first Maltese to qualify by right". IAAF. 12 August 2004. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  7. ^ "IAAF Athens 2004: Women's 800m Round 1 – Heat 6". Athens 2004. IAAF. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  8. ^ "Blake out of 800 metres". Times of Malta. 21 August 2004. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  9. ^ "Tanya Blake – God Given Talent". 25 June 2006. Retrieved 6 June 2022.