Bob Kennedy (runner)

Robert Owen Kennedy Jr. (born August 18, 1970 in Bloomington, Indiana) is an American distance runner.

[1] Kennedy was twice state champion in cross country while at Westerville North High School, with winning times of 15:31.8 (1986) and 15:03.2 (1987).

[4] Kennedy opted to compete for the Indiana Hoosiers and won 16 Big Ten Conference track titles.

In the 5000 meter finals, Kennedy surged to the front at the beginning of the penultimate lap and forced the pace.

He participated in workouts with Kenyan athletes also coached by Kim McDonald at the group's training bases in the U.S., Australia and England.

[8][9] McDonald rarely gave his athletes goal times for workouts, and they regularly ran sub-4 minute miles in practice Kennedy suffered a back injury in an auto accident before the 2000 Olympic Trials and missed seven weeks of training, as a result of the injury he was not able to make the Olympic team that year.

He returned to win the USA Track & Field (USATF) Championships 5000 meter race against Colorado grad Adam Goucher, who by then was largely seen to be Kennedy's successor.