CHERI KENAH
 

Events: Middle Distance

Height: 5-8

Weight: 125

PRs: 1500m - 4:09.16 (2002); Mile - 4:31.10 (2001) 3000m - 8:52.41  (1995); 5000m - 15:10.5 (2000); 10,000m - 32:55.43 (1996)

Born: December 26, 1970, in Utica, N.Y.

Current Residence: Reston, Va.

High School: Saratoga Springs (N.Y.) ‘89

College: Villanova ‘93

Coach: Ron Helmer

Agent: Mark Wetmore

Club: adidas

Career Highlights: 5-time U.S. Indoor 3000m runner-up; 1999 U.S. Outdoor 5,000m runner-up; 2nd at 1998 USA Indoor mile

           Kenah has been among the most consistent American distance runners, dating back to her high school days. She comes from an athletic family; her father ran cross country, and her mother was a fast runner as well. She followed her older sister out for the track team as a 9th-grader, and has been running ever since. As a younger sibling, Kenah took pride in the fact that as a youth she surpassed her sister’s athletic accomplishments…originally a 400m runner, she was convinced to go out for cross country by her coaches: ‘I thought they were insane. 3.1 miles was much too far’...had a torn plantar fascia that she suffered in May 2000. The injury was diagnosed following the Oregon Twilight meet, where she posted a personal-best time of 15:10.5. Kenah was still troubled by the injury at the Olympic Trials, where she finished 11th in the first round heat of the 5000m... earned a degree in communications (education minor) at Villanova... married Rich Kenah, bronze medalist in the 800m at the 1997 World Championships, on September 26, 1997... maiden name is Goddard.  

2002: 2^nd at USA Indoor 3000m (8:58.32)… 5^th at USA Outdoors 5000m (15:23.32)… 4^th at USA 7-Mile Champs (38:50)… 8^th at U.S. 5 km Champs (16:10)… 3^rd at adidas Oregon Track Classic 5000m (15:14.69)… on European circuit in Grand Prix action, finished sixth at Zagreb 1500m (4:09.16)…ranked #4 in U.S. at 3,000m, #5 at 5,000m by T&FN… bests of 4:09.16 (1500m), 4:37.55i (mile), 8:54.41 (3000m), 15:14.69 (5000m) and 33:27.68 (10,000m).

2001: 2^nd at USA Indoor 3000m (8:55.69)… 6^th in semifinal heat at World Indoors (9:02.24)…6^th in 5000m at USA Outdoors (15:30.42)…3^rd at U.S. 4k XC (12:50)… 59^th at World XC 4K (16.26)...ranked #10 at 1500m, #4 at 3000m & #8 at 5000m in U.S. by T&FN…bests of 4:11.86, 4:31.10, 8:53.70; 15:30.42, 8:55.69i.

2000: 2nd at USA Indoor 3000m (9:01.66)... 2nd at Air Force Millrose Games Mile (4:38.15)... 11th in 1st round heat of Olympic Trials 5000m (15:58.72)... ranked #8 (1500) and #10 (5000) in U.S. by T&FN...bests of 4:16.0, 4:32.87 (mile), 9:01.66 (indoor), 15:10.5.

1999: 2nd at USA Indoor 3000m (9:11.82)...2^nd in 5,000m at U.S. outdoors (15:26.6)…11th at World Outdoor 5000m... bests of 4:09.33, 4:38.68 (mile), 8:42.68, 15:13.42, 33:22.96.

1998: 2nd at mile (4:37.49) in USA Indoor...5th at 5000 (15:42.62) in USA Champs...5th at 5000 (16:01.62) in Goodwill Games...2nd at 3000 (8:50.74 PR) at Edwardsville GP...ranked #5 U.S. at 5000 by T&FN; #2 U.S. at 3000; #10 U.S. at 1500... bests of 4:13.42, 8:50.74 and 15:28.94.

1997: 2nd at 3000 (9:01.54) in USA Indoor...12th at 3000 in World Indoor (9:04.05)...5th at 5000 (15:55.79) in USA Champs...mile PR of 4:30.75...ranked #6 U.S. at 5000 by T&FN; #5 U.S. at 3000; #8 U.S. at 10,000... bests of 4:17.25, 9:01.54 and 15:21.72.

1996: 4th at 3000 (9:18.42) in USA Indoor...6th at 5000 (15:41.80), 8th at 1500 (4:13.10) in Olympic Trials...10,000m PR of 32:55.43...4th in USA XC Champs...ranked #6 U.S. at 5000 by T&FN... bests of 4:13.05, 8:57.52 and 15:29.64.

1995: 5th in 3000 (9:10.58) at USA Indoor...5th at 5000 (15:29.68 PR), 8th at 1500 (4:14.20) in USA Champs...800m PR of 2:06.52...41st at USA XC Champs...ranked #6 U.S. at 5000 by T&FN; #5 U.S. at 3000; #9 U.S. at 1500... bests of 4:10.78, 8:52.41 and 15:29.68.

1994: 8th in 3000 (9:32.92) in USA Indoor...8th at 3000 (9:24.10) in USA Champs...15th in USA XC Champs... bests of 4:14.15, 9:02.28 and 16:24.68.

1993: Won Big East Indoor mile (4:42.53) and 3000 (9:26.38)...2nd at Mile (4:40.01), 8th at 3000 (9:24.91) in NCAA Indoor...won 1500 (4:25.55), 3rd in 3000 (9:32.4) at Big East...7th in 1500 heats (4:31.97) at NCAA... bests of 4:22.57 and 9:21.14.  

1992: Won Big East Indoor mile (4:46.64), 2nd in 3000 (9:19.63), ran on winning 4x800 (2:09.3 for 8:39.81)...4th at 3000 (9:21.04) in NCAA Indoor; led off 4th-place 4x800 (2:09.7 for 8:38.75)... 2nd at 1500 (4:26.72) at Big East...2nd at 3000 in NCAA (9:28.50)...12th in 3000 heats at Olympic Trials (9:41.16)...7th in NCAA XC... bests of 4:18.00 and 9:19.63.

1991: Ran on winning 4x800 (8:37.02) at Big East Indoor...2nd at 3000 in NCAA Indoor (9:11.63)...3rd in 1500 (4:24.60), 4th in 3000 (9:30.50), ran on winning 4x800 (8:41.04) at Big East Outdoor...3rd at 3000 in NCAA (9:10.30 PR)...31st in NCAA XC... bests of 4:21.43 and 9:10.30.

1990: Ran on winning 4x800 and distance medley at Big East Indoor...6th in mile heat (4:47.44) at NCAA Indoor...7th at 3000 in NCAA...28th in NCAA XC... bests of 4:17.2 and 9:11.9.

1989: Won New York HS title at 3000m...56th in NCAA XC... bests of 4:28.0 and 9:31.9.

1988: Won New York HS cross country title...bests of 4:32.62 and 10:04.7.

1987: Best of 4:37.9.