Category: Athlete

Inducted: Thursday, July 16, 2009

Jim Emberley was a standout sprinter who excelled at every level of track from school meets to provincial competition to military events in Europe as he earned himself recognition among the very best runners the province has produced. He combined speed with determination and confidence as he emerged as an exceptional athlete.

He first attracted attention in Christian Brothers Grammar School Track Meets while attending St. Pat’s in the late 1950’s and continued winning sprints in exceptional times through high school. He emerged as the St. Pat’s junior victor ludorum winner in 1957.

At the 1963 provincial track championships he established records for the 100 yards and 220 yards dashes with times of ten seconds flat and 23 seconds flat. This performance gained him the overall recognition that he deserved.

In 1961, he ran for Newfoundland and Labrador at the Canadian National Exhibition Dominion Track Championships and placed fourth in the 100 yards and 220 yards events against the best in Canada. He was a member of the Manitoba team that earned second place in the team relay.

At the 1962 provincial championships in Gander, running for St. Pat’s, he won all three sprints with first in all heats and the finals for the 100 yards, 220 yards and 440 yards. He was first and second at a 1960 meet at the Feildian Grounds.

In the 1958 St. John’s High School championships he had three firsts and a second and followed that up in 1958 with a first, second and third at the provincial juvenile championships on Bell Island.

His international competition came in 1965 in Germany while he was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. He was named best athlete in a meet with entries from the U.S., Germany, Britain and Belguim and was a member of a winning unit in a NATO meet.

Retired after 35 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, he lives in Harbour Grace and was in good enough condition to perform well in a Masters Track Meet that was held in 1980.