Ken Swenson

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Ken Swenson
Personal information
Born April 18, 1948
Clay Center, Kansas[1]
Medal record
Men's Athletics
Representing the  United States
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1971 Cali 800 metres

Kenneth Lloyd "Ken" Swenson (born April 18, 1948 in Clay Center, Kansas) is a retired middle-distance runner from the United States. Swenson was the world leader at 800 meters in 1970 and competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.

Career

Swenson, as a senior at Kansas State University, won the 880 yards in 1:46.3 at the 1970 NCAA outdoor championships.[2] He also won at that year's national (AAU) championships, narrowly defeating Mark Winzenried as both were timed in 1:47.4.[3][4] Swenson set his personal best for 800 meters, 1:44.8, on July 16, 1970 in Stuttgart in a dual meet between the United States and West Germany; the time was the fastest in the world that year and a new American record for the metric distance.[5][6][note 1] Track & Field News ranked Swenson the world's second-best half-miler that year, behind Yevgeniy Arzhanov of the Soviet Union.[8]

In 1971 Swenson only placed third in the AAU outdoor meet (behind Juris Luzins and Jamaica's Byron Dyce); however, he won gold at the Pan American Games in Cali, running 1:48.08.[3][6] At the 1972 Olympic Trials Swenson ran 1:45.1, his best time since 1970; he lost to Dave Wottle (who equaled the world record of 1:44.3) and Rick Wohlhuter, but took the third and final Olympic qualifying spot ahead of early leader Jim Ryun.[6][9] At the Olympics in Munich Swenson qualified from his heat, but was disqualified in the semi-finals.[1]

Swenson continued his career for several more years; in March 1975 he joined the International Track Association (ITA), a professional circuit.[10][note 2] Swenson set his personal best for the mile run, 3:59.1, in an ITA meet on May 3, 1975; he was the 75th American to run a four-minute mile.[11]

Notes

  1. ↑ The previous record was Jim Ryun's 1:44.9 from 1966. Ryun's time had been set at 880 yards (804.672 m), and was worth about 1:44.3 for 800 m.[7]
  2. ↑ At the time, track and field was primarily an amateur sport, and most athletes only received under-the-table money. Professional athletes were not allowed to compete in the Olympics or other amateur meetings.

References

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