Kathlyn Kelley Owens (August 30, 1919 – September 12, 2006) was an Americanathlete who competed at the1936 Summer Olympics inBerlin.[1] At thewomen's high jump competition she placed a joint 9th after making 1.50m, but failing to clear 1.55m. Born inSeneca, South Carolina,[2] she was never on the track team at high school,[3] but was coached by school principal Julian Davis, who encouraged her to try out for the Olympics and found track coaches fromClemson University to work with her. At the 1936United States Women's Olympic Trials she tied for third place, which led to a jump-off againstIda Myers that left Kelley with a bronze medal from the event and a spot on the national Olympic team.[4] It was the last women's jump-off at an American Olympic trial until 2000.[5] Despite having made the team, however, she needed to raise $500 to fund her trip, which she found difficult owing to theGreat Depression. Davis, however, called uponSouth Carolinastate senatorHarry I. Hughes to convince the legislature, successfully, to pay for her journey. Prior to leaving forGermany she dined with the 1932 championJean Shiley[4] and, during the Olympics, she roomed with gold medalistsHelen Stephens andBetty Robinson. She planned to train for the1940 Summer Olympics,[6] and even received a track scholarship toGreenville Women's College (which later became a part ofFurman University), but was forced to leave the school after she was married in December 1938, per college policy. She then took up women'sbasketball, which she played until the birth of her first daughter in 1942,[4] and eventually settled with a career as abeautician.[2]
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