Ken Doherty (track and field)

Ken Doherty
Personal information
BornMay 16, 1905
Detroit, Michigan, United States
DiedApril 19, 1996 (aged 90)
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
Alma materWayne State University[1]
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight75 kg (165 lb)
SpouseLucile Mason
Children2
Sport
SportAthletics
EventDecathlon
ClubCadillac Athletic Club
Achievements and titles
Personal best7784 (1929)[2]
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1928 Amsterdam Decathlon

John Kenneth Doherty (May 16, 1905 – April 19, 1996) was an American decathlon champion, college track and field coach, author and longtime director of the Penn Relays. While a student at the University of Michigan, Doherty won the American decathlon championship in 1928 and 1929 and won the bronze medal in the event at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. He later served as a track coach at Princeton University (1929–1930), the University of Michigan (1930–1948), and the University of Pennsylvania (1948–1957). He was also the meet director for the Penn Relays from 1956 to 1969 and of the first dual track meet between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1959. He was also a published author of works on track coaching, and his Track & Field Omnibook was regarded as "the track coach's bible" from the 1970s through the 1990s. Doherty has been inducted into at least six athletic halls of fame, including the National Track and Field Hall of Fame and athletic halls of fame at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University.

  1. ^ "J. Kenneth Doherty* (1977) - Hall of Fame".
  2. ^ Kenneth Doherty. trackfield.brinkster.net