SAINT-DENIS, France — Indian Hills Community College alum Kenny Bednarek is looking to add to his 2020 silver medal in the men's 200 meters this week in Paris.
Bednarek competed in a first-round heat of the 200-meter race Monday afternoon, needing a top-three finish to automatically qualify for the semifinals.
The 25-year-old Bednarek finished with a time of 19.96 seconds, the best in his heat. He moves on to the semis which take place on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 1:02 p.m. CT.
Other Team USA runners that made the semis are Erriyon Knighton and Noah Lyles.
Bednarek's time is the fastest of all qualifiers, slightly quicker than Knighton's (19.99). Lyles qualified with a time of 20.19 seconds.
Bednarek will also race in Round 1 of the men's 4x100m relay at 4:35 a.m. CT Thursday.
Who is Kenny Bednarek?
Originally from Tulsa, Okla., he then moved to Rice Lake, Wis. before attending Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. At Indian Hills, Bednarek ran the fastest indoor 200-meter in the U.S. Along with his Olympic silver medal, he also was a silver medalist at the 2022 World Championships.
Affectionately known as "Kung Fu Kenny" because of his ninja-style headband and love of anime, Bednarek has had a successful track season. At the U.S. Olympic Trials, he got personal bests in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events with 9.87 seconds and 19.59 respectively. Both blistering times helped the 6'2" sprinter qualify for his second Olympic Games.
In the 100-meter final at 2024 Paris Olympic he finished seventh with a time of 9.88 seconds, which would have been good enough for the bronze medal in the previous Olympics.
He currently holds the No. 2 world rank, behind teammate and recent Olympic gold medal winner of the 100-meters Noah Lyles.