Irene Joan Davidson was a New Zealand sprinter who, as Joan Hart, represented her country at the 1950 British Empire Games.
11 Facts About Joan Hart
1.
2.
Joan Hart showed early promise as a sprinter as a 13-year-old, finishing third in a 100 yards invitational handicap race at Morrinsville in March 1939, behind the Australian, Decima Norman, who equalled the world record, and Doreen Lumley.
3.
In 1940, Joan Hart won the junior girls' athletics championship at Hamilton Technical High School, breaking records for the triple jump, long jump and the 100 yards, recording a time of 12 seconds for the latter event.
4.
Later in 1941, the Joan Hart family left the Morrinsville district, moving to a farm near Hamilton.
5.
In 1942, Joan Hart recorded a time of 11.6 seconds in winning the girls' senior 100 yards representing Hamilton Technical High at the Waikato Secondary Schools' athletics meet.
6.
In 1944, Joan Hart won the Auckland provincial 75 years, 100 yards, and 220 yards titles: her time of 8.8 seconds for the 75 yards equalled the New Zealand record set in 1939 by Doreen Lumley, while she recorded 11.4 seconds and 27.4 seconds, respectively, for the 100 yards and 220 yards.
7.
At the 1945 Auckland championships, Joan Hart won the 75 yards title in a time of 9.0 seconds, placed second in the 220 yards, and third in the 100 yards.
8.
Joan Hart's time of 25.8 seconds in the 220 yards was a personal best.
9.
At the 1950 New Zealand athletics championships, Joan Hart set a new national record of 24.9 seconds in her heat of the 220 yards.
10.
Joan Hart finished third in her heat, recording a time of 25.9 seconds, but was fifth in her semifinal and did not progress further.
11.
Joan Hart died on 23 September 2006, and her body was cremated in Hastings.