Kenny Bennett competed in top marathons after high school and still runs at 60

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In the 148-year existence of Kokomo High School many talented athletes have passed through the Kokomo Wildkat athletic programs. Although most of the attention went to the athletes in the more popular and larger revenue producing sports of basketball and football, of equal dedication and skill were the athletes in the lesser-known sports. Kenny Bennett (KHS ‘79) was one of those athletes.

Bennett lettered in swimming, track, and cross county, and he holds the record for most varsity letters (12) earned by a male athlete in the 148-year history of KHS.

Bennett said he is most proud of his first earned K. His sport of focus was cross-country, which he began in earnest in the 8th grade. As a freshman, he continued cross-country at Kokomo High School under the guidance of legendary cross-country coach Ricke Stucker. Coach Stucker believed instilling self-discipline and hard work as vital to an athlete and important for success in life after graduation from high school.

Many do not understand that the athletes in the cross-country world are a unique group of individuals, involved in a sport with little recognition; one that requires enormous dedication and sacrifice. Very few individuals in society would have the motivation or stamina to run four to eight miles before daylight and then repeat the run every day after school; even training during the summer vacation. These training runs were conducted regardless of the weather conditions.

During Bennett’s freshman season, the Wildkat Harriers finished at 12-3 and won the sectional, finishing ninth in the regional. The Kats also won the Bloomington Invitational and Twin Lakes Invitational. In Bennett’s second season, the Kats went 12-2, their best record in years. The Kats also won their fourth straight sectional and finished sixth in the regional. Kokomo also won the Logansport Invitational.

Bennett’s junior season was a rebuilding for the Kats as they finished at 8-7 and second in the sectional. In Bennett’s senior year, despite a disappointingly slow start, the Kats improved as the season progressed. The Wildkats won the sectional, finishing 13th in the regional, and for the sixth straight year won the Twin Lakes Invitational and finished second in the North Central Conference (NCC).

Bennett was named an NCC All-Conference runner and had his name enshrined in the KHS Athlete Honor Roll in the Memorial Gymnasium. Bennett said he is thankful for his parents, Kenny Sr. and Barb, along with sister Katrina, for the encouragement and motivation to conquer those daily 5 a.m. miles-long runs during his high school days.

After graduation from KHS, Bennett earned a very well-deserved Lions Club scholarship and went on to run cross-country for Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan University), majoring in physical education. After graduating from Marion College, Bennett taught school as a para-professional teacher (special needs) and coached cross-country at Sycamore Middle School and later Maconaquah High School. Bennett also served as an assistant to KHS swimming coach Bob Croll, and is a licensed starter for cross-country, swimming, and track meets.

Bennett has competed in many top marathon venues across the nation, such as Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Walt Disney World, Big Sur International, Las Vegas, Chicago, and he ran nine times in the world-famous Boston Marathon, including eight straight events. Bennett’s personal best was in Chicago with a time of 2:32:17 for the 26-mile marathon in 1988.

Bennett credits fellow runners Bill Heck and Chuck McCoskey for their assistance during the grueling training sessions for those events.

McCoskey once stated “Bennett is one of the best runners in the state, certainly the best in Kokomo.”

Bennett now works as a fitness coordinator for the Miami Correctional Facility, and amazingly at age 60, he still runs at least seven miles, six to seven days a week. He also swims 1,000 yards a day. He can still be seen jogging around Kokomo every morning. When you see him honk and wave. Kenny Bennett, A True Kokomo Wildkat Legend