Bob Kennedy (runner)
Encyclopedia
Robert Owen Kennedy Jr. (born 28 August 1970 in Westerville, Ohio
) is an American
distance runner. Now retired, he once held the American record in the 3000 meters (7:30.84), 2 miles (8:11.59) and the 5000 metres (12:58.21).
He was the first ever non-African to run the 5000 metres in less than thirteen minutes, and he is still one of only six non-Africans to do so.
in 1992.
Kennedy attended Indiana University after a high school career at Westerville North HS
near Columbus, Ohio
and while at IU was the NCAA 1,500 meter national champion in track in 1990 and indoor NCAA mile champion in 1991. He also won the NCAA cross country championships during his freshman and senior years (1988 & 1992).
His senior year he also won the USATF National Cross Country Championships, becoming only the second person in history to win both the NCAA cross country nationals and U.S. national cross country championships in the same year. (Al Lawrence of Houston was the first, performing the feat in 1959 and 1960.) Kennedy's second USATF National Cross Country title came in 2004, the twelve-year gap between titles (1992 & 2004) being the longest in history of the USATF. Kennedy participated in several World Cross Country championships, his highest finish being 14th place in the 1995 race.
Kennedy participated in workouts with Kenyan athletes also coached by McDonald at the group's training bases in the U.S., Australia and England. McDonald rarely gave his athletes goal times for workouts, and they regularly ran sub-4 minute miles in practice.
Kennedy suffered a back injury in an auto accident before the 2000 Olympic Trials and missed seven weeks of training so that he was not able to make the Olympic team that year. In 2001, he was hindered by thyroid
problems. He returned to win the USA Track & Field (USATF) Championships 5000 meter race against Colorado grad Adam Goucher
, who by then was largely seen to be Kennedy's successor. He was able to beat the younger and faster Goucher by alternating the pace between each lap, surging then slowing, forcing Goucher to come to him after each surge and blunting Goucher's finishing kick. In all, Kennedy was four time USATF National Champion in the 5,000 - 1995, 1996, 1997, and 2001.
After running a personal best of 27:37 in the spring of 2004, Kennedy competed in the 2004 US Olympic Trials in the 10,000 meter race, but had to drop out of the race due to aggravation of an Achilles tendon
injury he had suffered in the weeks leading up to the Olympic trials. After recovering from the injury he briefly tried his hand at the marathon, dropping out of the New York City marathon that autumn and since then has retired from competitive distance running.
has created two racing spikes in honor of him, the Nike Kennedy XC and Nike Zoom Kennedy. Both are popular and sought-after racing spikes; however the Nike Zoom Kennedy has been discontinued and the Kennedy XC has been renamed the GHAC XC, due to the expiration of Bob Kennedy's endorsement contract with Nike. In May 2006 Kennedy signed a three-year contract with Puma.http://www.pumabiz.com/news.jsp?year=06&id=66&lang=eng
Westerville, Ohio
Westerville, once known as "The Dry Capital of the World", is a city in Franklin and Delaware counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 35,318 at the 2000 census.-Early history:...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
distance runner. Now retired, he once held the American record in the 3000 meters (7:30.84), 2 miles (8:11.59) and the 5000 metres (12:58.21).
He was the first ever non-African to run the 5000 metres in less than thirteen minutes, and he is still one of only six non-Africans to do so.
School competition
Kennedy started running while attending Westerville North High School. Kennedy chose track after having dabbled in baseball, basketball, and soccer. Kennedy was a three time state champion in cross country in high school. Kennedy finished fifth in the 1987 National Junior Championships as a 16-year-old junior. Kennedy graduated from Indiana UniversityIndiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
in 1992.
Kennedy attended Indiana University after a high school career at Westerville North HS
Westerville North High School (Ohio)
Westerville North High School is a one-story public high school in Westerville, Ohio in Delaware County, Ohio. It is one of three high schools in the Westerville City School District. The school's current principal is Kurt Yancey.-Background:...
near Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
and while at IU was the NCAA 1,500 meter national champion in track in 1990 and indoor NCAA mile champion in 1991. He also won the NCAA cross country championships during his freshman and senior years (1988 & 1992).
His senior year he also won the USATF National Cross Country Championships, becoming only the second person in history to win both the NCAA cross country nationals and U.S. national cross country championships in the same year. (Al Lawrence of Houston was the first, performing the feat in 1959 and 1960.) Kennedy's second USATF National Cross Country title came in 2004, the twelve-year gap between titles (1992 & 2004) being the longest in history of the USATF. Kennedy participated in several World Cross Country championships, his highest finish being 14th place in the 1995 race.
Kennedy participated in workouts with Kenyan athletes also coached by McDonald at the group's training bases in the U.S., Australia and England. McDonald rarely gave his athletes goal times for workouts, and they regularly ran sub-4 minute miles in practice.
Olympics
The highlight of Kennedy's career came in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. In the 5000 meter finals, Kennedy surged to the front at the beginning of the penultimate lap and forced the pace. He held the lead for almost a lap and was ultimately passed just before the closing lap, eventually placing 6th. He had also made it to the finals of the 1992 Olympic 5000m race and placed 12th. He also ran the 5000m in the World Championships in Athletics for the US in 1991 (12th), 1993, 1995 (12th), 1997 (6th), and 1999 (9th).Kennedy suffered a back injury in an auto accident before the 2000 Olympic Trials and missed seven weeks of training so that he was not able to make the Olympic team that year. In 2001, he was hindered by thyroid
Thyroid
The thyroid gland or simply, the thyroid , in vertebrate anatomy, is one of the largest endocrine glands. The thyroid gland is found in the neck, below the thyroid cartilage...
problems. He returned to win the USA Track & Field (USATF) Championships 5000 meter race against Colorado grad Adam Goucher
Adam Goucher
Adam Goucher is a retired American cross-country and track and field athlete. He primarily competed in distance events and is featured in Running With The Buffaloes, a book revolving around the 1998 season of the University of Colorado cross country team.-Background:Goucher attended Doherty High...
, who by then was largely seen to be Kennedy's successor. He was able to beat the younger and faster Goucher by alternating the pace between each lap, surging then slowing, forcing Goucher to come to him after each surge and blunting Goucher's finishing kick. In all, Kennedy was four time USATF National Champion in the 5,000 - 1995, 1996, 1997, and 2001.
After running a personal best of 27:37 in the spring of 2004, Kennedy competed in the 2004 US Olympic Trials in the 10,000 meter race, but had to drop out of the race due to aggravation of an Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
injury he had suffered in the weeks leading up to the Olympic trials. After recovering from the injury he briefly tried his hand at the marathon, dropping out of the New York City marathon that autumn and since then has retired from competitive distance running.
Nike branding
NikeNike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
has created two racing spikes in honor of him, the Nike Kennedy XC and Nike Zoom Kennedy. Both are popular and sought-after racing spikes; however the Nike Zoom Kennedy has been discontinued and the Kennedy XC has been renamed the GHAC XC, due to the expiration of Bob Kennedy's endorsement contract with Nike. In May 2006 Kennedy signed a three-year contract with Puma.http://www.pumabiz.com/news.jsp?year=06&id=66&lang=eng
Personal Best Times
- 1500 meters 3:38.2
- Mile 3:56.21
- 2000 meters 4:59.9
- 3000 meters 7:30.84 (Former American Record)
- 2 miles 8:11.59 (Former American Record)
- 5000 meters 12:58.21 (Former American Record)
- 10,000 meters 27:37.45