John Pennel

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John Thomas Pennel (born July 25, 1940 in Memphis , Tennessee , † September 26, 1993 in Santa Monica , California ) was an American track and field athlete who was one of the world's top pole vaulters in the 1960s . He improved the world record several times.

Life

The 1.78 m tall and 75 kg hobby musician (saxophone) studied journalism and sports at Northeast State College in Monroe , Louisiana . Before he came to the pole vault, he had already tried his hand at boxing, swimmer and long jumper. In 1965 he won his only US championship (5.18 m) and was awarded the Sullivan Award. In 1970 he was the best American sixth on the world's best list with a jump of 5.33 m.

Pennel died of cancer at the age of 53. He left five children. His son Shawn also tried his hand at pole vaulting, but gave up this sport because he could not withstand the pressure of expectation that he was exposed to due to the strong external resemblance to his father. John Pennel was posthumously inducted into the US Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2004.

World records

  • 4.95 m on March 24, 1963 in Memphis
  • 4.97 m on April 11, 1963 in Natchitoches
  • 5.04 m on April 30, 1963 in Monroe
  • 5.10 m on July 13, 1963 in London
  • 5.13 m on August 5, 1963 in London
  • 5.20 m on August 24, 1963 in Miami (after successful attempts over 4.57 m and 4.90 m, he took this height in the 2nd attempt)
  • 5,34 m on July 23, 1966 in Los Angeles
  • 5.44 m on July 21, 1969 in Sacramento

Olympic games

Individual evidence

  1. John Pennel in the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame

Web links