Ken Swenson

Kenneth Lloyd Swenson (born April 18, 1948 in Clay Center, Kansas) is an American middle-distance runner. Swenson was the world leader at 800 meters in 1970 and competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.

Ken Swenson

Personal information
Born	(1948-04-18) April 18, 1948 (age 77) Clay Center, Kansas[1]
Medal record Men's Athletics Representing the  United States Pan American Games 1971 Cali 800 metres

Career

As a senior at Kansas State University, Swenson 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.