Ken Dennis

Kenneth Edward Dennis (May 13, 1937 – April 7, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada) was an American track and field athlete. As a Masters sprinter he held the world record in the 100 metres in several age groups. Standing 5'3" the short Dennis was known for his soft-spoken nature, his greetings of "Hey man" or "Go man" and his blazing fast starts. Dennis first began sprinting at Fremont High School in Los Angeles where he opened eyes with a 9.5 100-yard dash before transferring to Centennial High School in Compton. At Centennial, he was joined by Charles Dumas, who had transferred from Jefferson High School. One year removed from winning the Olympic gold medal and being the first person to jump 7 feet, Dumas winning the high jump was a foregone conclusion. But it was Dennis' 13 points winning the 100, second in the 220 behind Bobby Poynter and 4x220 yard relay that led Centennial to the overall te...