Beverly Dawn Edith Weigel (born 16 August 1940), with her first name commonly misspelled as Beverley and since her marriage known as Beverly Robertson, is a New Zealand athlete. Mainly active as a long jumper, but also as a sprinter, she represented her country at the 1956 Summer Olympics, the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, and the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Weigel was born in 1940 in Auckland, New Zealand.[1] She received her education at Kelston High School (now Kelston Girls' College, but co-ed at the time).[2] Described as a "phenomenal athlete", she won the New Zealand senior women's long jump title at age 15.[3] This secured her a place on the New Zealand Olympic team for the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, and she is listed as New Zealand Olympian number 126.[4] Of the nine track and field athletes who represented the country, she was the youngest at age 16.[5] She competed in long jump and of 19 competitors, she came 7th.[6] In 1957, she set a world junior record with a long jump of 6.23 metres (20.4ft) in Auckland – a distance that would have won her a silver medal at the 1956 Olympics.[7]
At the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Weigel competed in three events. In the women's long jump, she placed eighth.[4] In the 100 yards women's race, she was eliminated in the heats.[1] With Mary Donaghy, Margaret Stuart, and Marise Chamberlain, she competed in the 4x110 yards relay and they came 4th.[1][4] At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, she was one of New Zealand's fourteen track and field athletes.[8] Again competing in the long jump, she came 10th from 30 competitors.[9]
On 9 February 1957 Beverly beat the 1949 Junior World Best by 11cm at a meet in Papakura. She was also only 12cm under the Women's Open World Record. This performance was never officially recognised as a record.[10]
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