Kenneth Brokenburr
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Brokenburr is a former American sprinter. He won an Olympic gold medal
as part of the 4x100 meter relay team at the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney, Australia
.
, Florida
. He grew up there and graduated from Winter Haven High School
in 1987. After high school, Brokenburr matriculated to Wayland Baptist College
in Plainview
, Texas
. There, as a sophomore in 1989, he became the NCAA Division II champion in the 200 meter dash. In 1991, this time as a senior for St. Augustine's College
in Raleigh
, North Carolina
, Brokenburr became the NCAA Division II champion in the 100 meter dash.
After trying out for the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona, Spain
, Brokenburr took a hiatus from running that lasted from 1993-1995.
.
By 1997, Brokenburr reduced his personal best time in the 100 meter dash to 10.04 seconds. For this, he achieved his first national ranking (#10) among U.S. runners in the 100. Three years later, in 2000, Brokenburr moved up to #5 among U.S. runners in the 100 meter dash and #7 in the 200 meter dash. During this time, he set another personal best by running the 200 in 20.04 seconds.
On July 15, 2000, while qualifying for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Brokenburr finished fifth out of eight runners in the final Olympic trial for the 4x100 meter relay. This earned him a spot to run on the U.S. national track and field team for the first time in his career, but he only ran a few trial heats in preparation of the 4x100 meter final in that year's Olympics while in Sydney. However, the team that did run finished in first place, and Brokenburr received a gold medal from the team’s effort. It was his sole Olympic medal.
, Florida
, a small town adjacent to his hometown of Winter Haven.
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
as part of the 4x100 meter relay team at the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Early life
Brokenburr was born on October 29, 1968 in Winter HavenWinter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He grew up there and graduated from Winter Haven High School
Winter Haven High School
Winter Haven High School PrincipalGina WilliamsSchool typePublic Religious affiliationNoneFounded1890LocationPolk County, Florida, Winter Haven, FloridaEnrollment1761 students , Campus surroundingsUrbanContact...
in 1987. After high school, Brokenburr matriculated to Wayland Baptist College
Wayland Baptist University
Wayland Baptist University is private, coeducational Baptist university based in Plainview, Texas, U.S.A. Wayland Baptist has a total of fourteen campuses in four additional Texas cities, five other states, and the country of Kenya. On August 31, 1908, the university was chartered by the state of...
in Plainview
Plainview, Texas
Plainview is a city in and the county seat of Hale County, Texas, United States. The population was 22,336 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Plainview is located at ....
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. There, as a sophomore in 1989, he became the NCAA Division II champion in the 200 meter dash. In 1991, this time as a senior for St. Augustine's College
St. Augustine's College (Raleigh)
Saint Augustine's College is a historically black college located in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. The college was founded in 1867 in Raleigh, North Carolina by prominent Episcopal clergy for the education of freed slaves.- History :...
in Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Brokenburr became the NCAA Division II champion in the 100 meter dash.
After trying out for the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Brokenburr took a hiatus from running that lasted from 1993-1995.
Professional career
In 1996, Brokenburr returned to track and field as a professional runner. He acted as his own agent, used George Williams as his coach, and was sponsored by 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...
.
By 1997, Brokenburr reduced his personal best time in the 100 meter dash to 10.04 seconds. For this, he achieved his first national ranking (#10) among U.S. runners in the 100. Three years later, in 2000, Brokenburr moved up to #5 among U.S. runners in the 100 meter dash and #7 in the 200 meter dash. During this time, he set another personal best by running the 200 in 20.04 seconds.
On July 15, 2000, while qualifying for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Brokenburr finished fifth out of eight runners in the final Olympic trial for the 4x100 meter relay. This earned him a spot to run on the U.S. national track and field team for the first time in his career, but he only ran a few trial heats in preparation of the 4x100 meter final in that year's Olympics while in Sydney. However, the team that did run finished in first place, and Brokenburr received a gold medal from the team’s effort. It was his sole Olympic medal.
Post-Olympic Career
Brokenburr currently resides in AuburndaleAuburndale, Florida
Auburndale is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 11,032 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 12,381...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, a small town adjacent to his hometown of Winter Haven.