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EUGENE, Ore. — From Ottumwa to Tokyo.
Kenny Bednarek’s unimaginable journey will take him in the hunt for Olympic gold subsequent month. The previous Indian Hills Group Faculty males’s observe standout certified for the Tokyo Summer season Video games on Sunday night time, ending second to Noah Lyles within the males’s 200-meter sprint to shut out the U.S. observe and discipline Olympic trials.
Bednarek, 22, ran a private greatest within the 200, crossing the end line in 19.78 seconds to make his first Olympic workforce. The IHCC alum completed fourth within the 100 meters however returned to Hayward Subject to earn redemption with a podium end within the 200 meters.
“I don’t know what to essentially say,” Bednarek mentioned on Sunday night time following Olympic qualifying run. “I imply, I made the workforce, I received second. I’m comfortable that occurred. I went into the race, comfortable to have a great begin and simply attempt to preserve the lead and I had a bit of hiccup. I received plenty of small minor issues to work on to ensure I’m higher by subsequent time.”
Lyles gained in 19.74 seconds, the most effective time on this planet this season. He’s among the many favorites to win the occasion in Tokyo after profitable the gold medal on the 2019 world championships in Doha.
Erriyon Knighton, was third in 19.84 incomes the ultimate berth to compete within the 200 later this summer season in Tokyo. Knighton, 17, is the youngest male observe Olympian since Jim Ryun in 1964.
The trio had been the ultimate People to earn spots within the Olympics throughout 28 sports activities.
Bednarek turned professional after one 12 months working at Indian Hills, bursting onto the observe and discipline worldwide scene throughout his freshman 12 months by profitable the 200 meter elite invitational on the Drake Relays. Among the many athletes that Bednarek beat two years in the past on the large blue oval included a number of Olympic athletes together with Yancarlos Martinez of the Dominican Republic, Turkey’s Jak Ali Harvey, Bermuda’s Tre Houston in addition to two-time World champ Wallace Spearmon, who gained the occasion in 2012 in a meet report 20.02.
“Having the ability to come out on prime in large time races being a JUCO athlete, not a Division I athlete, says loads about my expertise,” Bednarek mentioned. “The truth that I am (ran that) quick with out (the sort of instruments for coaching) that I (can be) uncovered to is sort of loopy.”
Bednarek’s unimaginable 12 months at Indian Hills did not finish at Drake. The native of Rice Lake, Wisconsin gained NJCAA nationwide out of doors titles within the 200 and 400 meters earlier than happening to complete eighth within the U.S. Observe and Subject Championships within the 200, incomes a spot within the 2019 IAAF World Championships.
“I am glad I dedicated right here (Indian Hills). There have been ups and downs, however that may have been case with any program I might have been part of,” Bednarek mentioned. “There have been excessive moments. There have been low moments. We overcame them as a program and we have had a number of athletes on our workforce that certified for nationals.
“I’ve no regrets. I selected the fitting place. The folks inside this program are what hold me humble. It is a fantastic group of individuals. They’re at all times pushing me to get higher and there to congratulate me after I do one thing nice.”
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