Kenneth Brokenburr

Kenneth Brokenburr
Personal information
Nationality American
Born 29 October 1968 (1968-10-29) (age 43)[1]
Winter Haven, Florida[1]
Residence Auburndale, Florida[2]
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 12 in)[1]
Weight 77 kg (170 lb; 12.1 st)[1]
Sport
Sport Running
Club Nike
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)

100m: 10.04 s

200m: 20.04 s

Kenneth ("Ken" or "Kenny") 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.[1]

Contents

Early life

Brokenburr was born on October 29, 1968 in Winter Haven, 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.[2]

After trying out for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, 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 Nike.[2]

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.[2]

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.[3] 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 Auburndale, Florida, a small town adjacent to his hometown of Winter Haven.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Ken Brokenburr Profile on Sports-Reference.com". Sports-Reference.com. http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/br/ken-brokenburr-1.html. Retrieved 2009-10-29. 
  2. ^ a b c d "Ken Brokenburr Profile on USATF.org". USATF.org. http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/2001/Brokenburr_Ken.asp. Retrieved 2009-10-29. 
  3. ^ "2000 U.S. Olympic Trials - 100 & 200 meter dash results". USATF.org. http://www.usatf.org/events/2000/OlympicTrials-TF/results/men.asp. Retrieved 2009-10-29.