| Ken Swenson | |
| Birth Date: | April 18, 1948 |
| Birth Place: | Clay Center, Kansas[1] |
| Show-Medals: | yes |
Kenneth Lloyd Swenson (born April 18, 1948 in Clay Center, Kansas) is a retired middle-distance runner from the United States. Swenson was the world leader at 800 meters in 1970 and competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
As a senior at Kansas State University, Swenson won the 880 yards in 1:46.3 at the 1970 NCAA outdoor championships.[2] He also won at that year's national (AAU) championships, narrowly defeating Mark Winzenried as both were timed in 1:47.4.[3] [4] Swenson set his personal best for 800 meters, 1:44.8, on July 16, 1970 in Stuttgart in a dual meet between the United States and West Germany; the time was the fastest in the world that year and a new American record for the metric distance.[5] [6] Track & Field News ranked Swenson the world's second-best half-miler that year, behind Yevgeniy Arzhanov of the Soviet Union.[7]
In 1971 Swenson only placed third in the AAU outdoor meet (behind Juris Luzins and Jamaica's Byron Dyce); however, he won gold at the Pan American Games in Cali, running 1:48.08.[3] [6] At the 1972 Olympic Trials Swenson ran 1:45.1, his best time since 1970; he lost to Dave Wottle (who equaled the world record of 1:44.3) and Rick Wohlhuter, but took the third and final Olympic qualifying spot ahead of early leader Jim Ryun.[6] [8] At the Olympics in Munich Swenson qualified from his heat, but was disqualified in the semi-finals.[1]
Swenson continued his career for several more years; in March 1975 he joined the International Track Association (ITA), a professional circuit.[9] Swenson set his personal best for the mile run, 3:59.1, in an ITA meet on May 3, 1975; he was the 75th American to run a four-minute mile.[10]