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Whereas Kenny Bednarek has proven Rice Lake what he’s able to, he’ll now get to point out the world.
Bednarek will probably be in motion on sports activities’ largest stage as he races within the Olympics starting subsequent week as monitor and subject competitors will get underway in Tokyo.
The 2018 Rice Lake Excessive Faculty graduate made Workforce USA after taking second within the 200-meter sprint eventually month’s U.S. Olympic Workforce Trials in Eugene, Ore. He’s additionally listed among the many entries for the 100, as he’s an alternate for the U.S. after he took fourth on the trials, one place off locking up a spot within the occasion.
Bednarek’s skills are not any secret to these in Rice Lake as he was a star for the Warriors as quickly as he stepped on the monitor, as he reached the state podium thrice as a freshman. Whereas competing for the Warriors, Bednarek set Wisconsin Division 2 state information within the 100, 200 and 400, and in complete he received seven state championships. He has the college information within the three sprints, whereas additionally being a part of program information within the 4×100 and 4×200 relays. Bednarek was key to the Rice Lake boys accumulating a state runner-up end as a workforce in 2017 earlier than capturing the lone monitor and subject workforce state championship in 2018.
After highschool Bednarek enrolled at Indian Hills Neighborhood School. For the faculty program Bednarek set college information within the 200 and 400 for the indoor season and the 100, 200 and 400 for the out of doors season. He received nationwide titles on the NJCAA out of doors championships within the 200 and 400 and within the 200 preliminaries he ran a wind assisted 19.49 seconds, the fourth-fastest time within the occasion all-time.
Bednarek turned professional following his sensation freshman 12 months and he raced within the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships. He was ready to earn his approach into the Olympics to be held in 2020, however the pandemic postponed the Olympic video games for a 12 months. During the last two years Bednarek has continued to make strides as he set private bests in each the 100 and 200 on the Olympic workforce trials. He broke the 20-second barrier as soon as in 2020 and was in search of his first sub-10 seconds 100 when 2021 started.
In 9 200 races this 12 months, Bednarek broke the 20-seconds barrier seven occasions, together with his 19.78 within the Olympic trials last on June 27, which earned him his spot on Workforce USA.
“It’s a dream come true,” Bednarek mentioned on NBC broadcast that night time. “After I was youthful, I at all times thought of being an Olympian, needed to be an Olympian. Now I’m right here. I’ve fulfilled my dream, however I’ve received plenty of work to do.”
Bednarek was looking for his first sub-10 seconds 100 heading to the trials and he ran a 9.96 within the prelims earlier than a private greatest 9.89 within the finals.
Bednarek enters subsequent week’s 200 races with second quickest time on this planet within the occasion this 12 months. Noah Lyles, the 2019 IAAF world champion, and the lone competitor to edge Bednarek on the U.S. trials, is taken into account the runner to beat in line with Jon Mulkeen’s World Athletics preview of the 200. Lyles additionally edged Bednarek by 0.04 seconds through the USA Observe and Subject Golden Video games Could 9.
To seize gold or accumulate a medal Bednarek may also must fend off challengers in 17-year-old American Erriyon Knighton, who took third on the U.S. trials, Canada’s Andre De Grasse, a 2016 Olympics silver medalist and 2021 NCAA champion Joe Fahnbelleh of Liberia.
Bednarek’s first motion on the Olympics comes the night time of Aug. 2. because the heats are set to start at 9:05 p.m. central time, 11:05 a.m. Aug. 3 in Tokyo. It is going to be broadcasted reside on CNBC. That night time in Tokyo would be the semifinals, which is 6:50 a.m. regionally on Aug. 3, which might be watched reside
The 200 finals will probably be raced at 9:55 p.m. in Tokyo on Aug. 4, which is 7:55 a.m. central time that morning. The semifinals and finals might be streamed reside at nbcolympics.com.
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