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Melvin Pender




Melvin ("Mel") Pender, Jr. (born October 31 , 1937 ) is a former American Athlete , winner of gold medal in 4x100 M Relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics .

Pender took up athletics in the army, where his incredible quickness was noticed in camp football games and he was selected to the 1964 Olympic Team . But in Tokyo , Pender was hampered by injury and managed to finish only sixth in 100 m.

At the Mexico Olympics , Pender finished sixth in 100 m and ran the second leg in the American 4x100 m relay team that won the gold medal and set a new World Record of 38.19.

After his athletics career Pender earned a bronze star in Vietnam and worked as the head track coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point .