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Gabe Jennings

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Gabe Jennings
Personal information
Birth nameGabriel Harmony Jennings
National teamUSA Track & Field
Born(1979-01-25)January 25, 1979(age 45)
Forks of Salmon, California,USA[1]
Alma materStanford University
University of Oregon School of Law
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm) (2008)[2]
Weight154 lb (70 kg) (2001))[3]
Sport
CountryUSA
University teamStanford Cardinal
AssociationNCAA
FormerpartnerMichael Stember
Coached byVin Lananna[4][5]
Retired2009 (semi-retired)
Achievements and titles
Personalbests
  • 800 meters:1:46.99 (1998)
  • 1500 meters:3:35.21 (2000)
  • Mile:3:55.32 (1998)
  • 3000 meters:7:58.40 (1998)
  • 5000 meters:13:44.60 (2000)

Gabe Jennings(born January 25, 1979, inForks of Salmon, California) is an AmericanOlympianand semi-retiredmiddle-distance runner.As a student atMadison East High SchoolinMadison, Wisconsin,Jennings won nine state titles in theWisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association(WIAA) and, as of 2022, still holds the 1600 meter record in the WIAA Division 1 with his 1997 time of 4:04.97.[6][7][1][8]AtStanford University,he was anAll-Americaathlete ten times and aNCAA championfour times.[9]Hequalifiedfor the2000 Summer Olympicsas a college junior but was eliminated during the semi-finals.[7][10][11][8]

Early life and education

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Jennings, the elder of two siblings, was born on January 25, 1979, to two teachers in the rural communityForks of Salmon, California.He ran his first race at age 5 and, at the suggestion of his father, whose trainingRunner's Worlddescribed as similar to "a suburban little-league dad," he ran two miles to and from school each day. The family moved toMadison, Wisconsin,when Jennings was 13 so his father pursue his doctorate at theUniversity of Wisconsin.[2][1][5][9]Jennings attendedMadison East High School,where he ran cross country and played football his freshman year before focusing on running.[12][10][13]

Jennings initially majored in math atStanford Universitybut changed to music late in his junior year.[14][15][10]He played the piano, drums,harpsichord,didgeridoo,andberimbauand was known for engaging track and field audiences in "impromptu jam sessions" after meets.[2][16][1]Much of his behavior, including sleeping at the foothills near campus or on the roof of a campus co-op in a tent, gave him the reputation of a free-spirited hippie by teammates and sports media alike, though he rejected this descriptor, both for himself and his family.[17][18][5]

Running career

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High school

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The summer before his freshman year, Jennings finished second in the 1600 meters at the National Hershey Track and Field Meet inHershey, Pennsylvania.[1][13]In fall 1994, he qualified for theWIAADivision 1 State Cross Country Championships and placed eighth overall.[19][20]The following spring, he won state titles in both the 1600 meters (4:15.6) and the 3200 meters (9:15.7) at the WIAA Division 1 track and field state championships[13][21]and qualified for theFoot Locker Cross Country Championships,where he placed seventh with a time of 15:29.3 and earned All-American Honors.[2][22][23]At the WIAA State Track & Field Championships in 1996, he won three individual distance events: 800 meters (1:54.4), 1600 meters (4:12.1), and 3200 meters (9:20.29).[24][25]Jennings ran his first 1500 meters in 1996 at thePenn Relaysand won (3:55.6).[26]In 1997, he won the high school 1500 meters (3:45.98), 1600 meters (4:04.97), and 800 meters (1:52.18) titles,[27][3]and ran with his teammates in the4 × 800 meters relay,helping move the team to fifth place with an overall time of 7:59.26.[28]During his senior year, Jennings again won the individual state title in cross country but finished 27 of 32 at the Foot Locker Championships due to aside stitch.[29][30]At thePrefontaine ClassicinEugene, Oregon,a few weeks later, his mile time was 4:02.81,[8][31]the fastest student mile in 23 years.[1][5]He was named Gatorade Athlete of the Year in 1996 and 1997 and finished his high school career with nine state titles.[1][8][32]

Collegiate

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Though Jennings wasredshirtedfor cross country during his freshman year atStanford University,he won theUS Junior National Cross Country Championships,becoming the fourth sequentialCardinalto claim the title.[1][33][8][34]He competed in the track and field season and finished as the top freshman in the nation in the 800 meters, 1500 meters, and 3000 meters. The only athlete ahead of him in the 5000 meters was his teammateJonathon Riley.He ran the 3000 meters in 7:58.40, the second fastest ever run by an American junior athlete, and was the first American junior to run a sub-4 minute mile in over 12 years.[8][35]He also earned IndoorAll-Americahonors from theNCAAby finishing fourth in the 3000 meters at theNCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships.[36][37]A few months later, he won the 1500 meters final at theMen's Outdoor Track and Field Championshipsand spent the summer competing in the US Junior Track & Field Championships, during which he won the 1500 meters and 5000 meters races, and the World Junior Championships.[9][38][39]

Jennings competed in the CardinalInvitationalduring his sophomore year but persistent training-related injuries kept him and teammateMichael Stemberoff the NCAA team for the year.[40][41][8]He ran several racesunattached,finishing first in the 1500 meters at the Pac-10 Championships and fourth in the US Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He won Stanford's Block "S" Outstanding Male Sophomore Award before spending the summer competing in Europe. Jennings started his junior cross country season as part of the winning team at theBrigham Young UniversityInvitational and 4th at the NCAA West Regional,[8][42][43]but lagged behind in the Stanford Invitational, finishing 16th;[44]the Pac-10 Championships, in 20th;[45]the Pre-Nationals, in 48th; and the NCAA Championships, in 123rd.[citation needed]In track and field, Jennings ran the opening 1200 meters leg of Stanford'sdistance medley relaythat won the NCAA Indoor Championship and set a new NCAA indoor record with a time of 9:28.83. He also won the mile (3:59.46), the indoor 1500 meters, placed seventh in the 3000 meters (8:04.96),[46][9][8]and earned his third All-American plaque. Stanford finished second overall for the third consecutive year.[citation needed]In the outdoor competition, he finished first in the 1500 meters,[1]which marked his third NCAA title of the year.[citation needed]In 1999, he won theVancouver Henry Jerome Classic1500 meters in 3:40:41 and later competed with theUSA Track & Fieldmiddle distance development crew in Europe. By 2000, Jennings' best time in the 1500 meters was 3:35.90, the best in the USA at that time. Jennings finished his collegiate career by competing in the2001 World Championships in AthleticsinEdmonton,Canada, where he placed 11th, and theUSA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.[17][8][47][33]

Olympics qualifiers

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During his junior year, Jennings finished first with a new personal best of 3:35.90 at thequalifying heatfor the 1500 meters and qualified for the Olympic team. He finished sixth in thepreliminary heatand advanced to the semifinals, where he finished ninth and was eliminated.[7][10][4]

Post-collegiate

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Due to lingering injuries, including one to hisAchilles heel,Jennings did not compete between 2002 and 2004. In 2002, he lived inCubafor a few weeks before moving toNew York City.[7][2]In 2003, he biked from California toBrazilto studycapoeira,a trip documented byTrack & Field News.During his trip, he suffered fromdysentryand severehepatitis Aand was forced to convalesce for a month at his parents' home inMendocinoafter nearly succumbing toliver failure.[2][4][18][16]In 2004, after recovering, he trained inKenyawith distance runners, including theDutch Olympic team,and at some point lived inBritish Columbiato become a rock climber. In 2005, he won the Humbolt Half-Marathon; placed second at theCalifornia International Marathon;[2][33]finished fourth (14:45.97) in a 5000 meters race atBerkeley;and ran 7000 meters of a 10,000 meters race at the Stanford Invitational.[4][18]In 2006, he finished fourth (3:39.42) at theIAAF World Cup1500 meters and trailed winnerBernard Lagatin the 1500 at the USATF Championships. He also ran theDécaNationandFifth Avenue Mile,and was part of Team Running USA between 2005 and 2006.[2][33][48][7]In May 2008, he moved toEugene, Oregon,in preparation for the2008 Olympic Trials.While living there, he became both a volunteer assistant coach atSouth Eugene High Schooland a legislative researcher for theLane CountyCommissioner.[49][2]He semi-retired in 2009 and was inducted into Stanford's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.[7][50]

Post-running life

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Jennings graduated fromUniversity of Oregon School of Lawin 2012, then pursued hisLL.M.in environmental law at theOcean University of China.[7][51]He returned to the United States in 2019 after teaching for several years in China.[52]

References

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  1. ^abcdefghiWalters, John (2000-07-10)."Miling to the beat of a different drummer free spirit Gabe Jennings should make plenty of noise at the Olympic Trials".Vault.Retrieved2023-05-18.
  2. ^abcdefghiBrant, John (2008-06-10)."The Performance Artist".Runner's World.Retrieved2023-06-14.
  3. ^ab"Gabe Jennings".USA Track & Field. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-11-04.
  4. ^abcdCrumpacker, John (2005-05-01)."A 'lost' drummer regains his beat / Runner back on track long after Olympic miss".SF Gate.Retrieved2023-05-18.
  5. ^abcdHersh, Philip (2000-07-19)."He's one of a kind".Wisconsin State Journal.Madison, Wisconsin, USA. p. 15.Retrieved2023-06-13– via newspapers.com.
  6. ^"WIAA Boys Track & Field Records"(PDF).Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. 2022.Retrieved2023-06-12.
  7. ^abcdefgMcCue, Matt (2012-06-20)."Olympian Then and Now: Gabe Jennings".Runners World.Retrieved2023-05-18.
  8. ^abcdefghij"Player Bio: Gabe Jennings".Stanford University.Retrieved2023-06-12.
  9. ^abcd"Gabe Jennings Inducted into Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame".Bring Back the Mile. 2018-11-01.Retrieved2023-05-18.
  10. ^abcdCrumpacker, John (2001-05-30)."NCAA Track and Field Championships / Stanford's Jennings seeks his identity".SF Gate.Retrieved2023-05-18.
  11. ^"USA Outdoor Track & Field Champions, Men's 1,500 m".USA Track & Field. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-08-21.Retrieved2007-08-09.
  12. ^Nevius, C.W. (2000-07-17)."Jennings Sings Along To Win in the 1,500".SF Gate.Retrieved2023-05-18.
  13. ^abcHernandez, Rob (1995-10-27)."Jennings set to shine".Wisconsin State Journal.Madison, Wisconsin, USA. p. 15.Retrieved2023-06-12– via newspapers.com.
  14. ^Crumpacker, John (2001-08-10)."Johnson conquers hurdles once again".SF Gate.Retrieved2023-06-12.
  15. ^Nevius, C.W. (2000-07-17)."Jennings Sings Along To Win in the 1,500".SF Gate.Retrieved2023-05-18.
  16. ^ab"Where In The World Is Gabe Jennings?".Track & Field News. Archived fromthe originalon 2006-05-05.
  17. ^abGiesen, Dan (2000-06-30)."Stride for Stride / Stanford milers share Olympic hopes, but that's where the similarities end".SF Gate.Retrieved2023-05-18.
  18. ^abcLongman, Jeré (2008-07-05)."Free-Spirited Jennings Is a Serious Contender in the 1,500".The New York Times.Retrieved2023-06-12.
  19. ^"1994 WIAA State Cross Country Championships - Division 1 Boys".Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.Retrieved2023-06-12.
  20. ^Semrau, Dennis (1994-11-02)."Edgewood's Jennings leads all-city team".The Capital Times.Madison, Wisconsin, USA. p. 13.Retrieved2023-06-12– via newspapers.com.
  21. ^"Coulee region track honor roll".The La Crosse Tribune.La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. 1995-06-10. p. 8.Retrieved2023-06-12– via newspapers.com.
  22. ^"Jennings runs into elite class".The Capital Times.Madison, Wisconsin, USA. 1995-12-14. p. 15.Retrieved2023-06-12– via newspapers.com.
  23. ^"Browning, Sato win pro championships".The Journal Times.Racine, Wisconsin, USA. 1995-12-10. p. 19.Retrieved2023-06-12– via newspapers.com.
  24. ^"WIAA state track results".The Post-Crescent.Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. 1996-06-02. p. 34.Retrieved2023-06-12– via newspapers.com.
  25. ^Thomas, Howard (1996-06-01)."Jennings' win misses 1,600 mark".The Capital Times.Madison, Wisconsin, USA. p. 19.Retrieved2023-06-12– via newspapers.com.
  26. ^"Jennings wins at Penn Relays".The Capital Times.Madison, Wisconsin, USA. 1996-04-27. p. 9.Retrieved2023-06-12– via newspapers.com.
  27. ^"Track".Portage Daily Register.Portage, Wisconsin, USA. 1997-06-09. p. 8.Retrieved2023-06-13– via newspapers.com.
  28. ^Semrau, Dennis (1997-06-07)."Records take hit at state".The Capital Times.Madison, Wisconsin, USA. p. 18.Retrieved2023-06-13– via newspapers.com.
  29. ^Falduto, Brad (1996-12-15)."A tired finish".Wisconsin State Journal.Madison, Wisconsin, USA. p. 31.Retrieved2023-06-12– via newspapers.com.
  30. ^"Locally".Wisconsin State Journal.Madison, Wisconsin, USA. 1996-12-14. p. 28.Retrieved2023-06-12– via newspapers.com.
  31. ^"Great mileage for Pre runner".SF Gate. 1997-05-26.Retrieved2023-06-12.
  32. ^Wilson, Travis (2010-06-22)."Genovesi named Gatorade Boys Track Athlete of the year".Wisconsin Sports Network and VNN Sports.Retrieved2023-06-12.
  33. ^abcd"Chat: Gabe Jennings".Runner's World. 2006-09-27.Retrieved2023-06-14.
  34. ^Hall, Landon (2000-05-28)."25 Years After Tragic Death, Prefontaine Still an Icon".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved2023-06-12.
  35. ^Crumpacker, John (1998-05-22)."Pac-10 meet at Stanford may have World implications".The San Francisco Examiner.San Francisco, California, USA. p. 67.Retrieved2023-06-13– via newspapers.com.
  36. ^"Muscle strain costs NSU's Powell".The Town Talk.Alexandria, Virginia, USA. 1998-06-07. p. 13.Retrieved2023-06-13– via newspapers.com.The top eight finishers in each event earn Division I All-America honors.
  37. ^Smallwood, John (1998-04-23)."After two=decade absence, 16 minutes to make history".Philadelphia Daily News.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. p. 73.Retrieved2023-06-13– via newspapers.com.
  38. ^"Jennings reaches world final".The Capital Times.Madison, Wisconsin, USA. 1998-08-01. p. 22.Retrieved2023-06-13– via newspapers.com.
  39. ^"Stanford freshman goes the distance".SF Gate. 1998-06-28.Retrieved2023-06-12.
  40. ^Hernandez, Bob (1999-05-18)."This conference realignment plan meets our needs, too".Wisconsin State Journal.Madison, Wisconsin, USA. p. 26.Retrieved2023-06-13– via newspapers.com.
  41. ^Crumpacker, John (1999-05-02)."Cal men go extra inch".SF Gate.Retrieved2023-06-12.
  42. ^Crumpacker, John (2001-05-21)."Stanford men win Pac-10 track title / Good depth enables Cardinal to edge USC".SF Gate.Retrieved2023-05-18.
  43. ^"Regional digest".The Sacramento Bee.Sacramento, California, USA. 1999-11-14. p. 37.Retrieved2023-06-14– via newspapers.com.
  44. ^"Alumni update".Wisconsin State Journal.Madison, Wisconsin, USA. 1999-10-05. p. 20.Retrieved2023-06-14– via newspapers.com.
  45. ^"Pac-10 Championships".The San Francisco Examiner.San Francisco, California, USA. 1999-10-31. p. 72.Retrieved2023-06-14– via newspapers.com.
  46. ^"Couts, Baylor still class of 4 x 400 relay field".The Des Moines Register.Des Moines, Iowa, USA. 2000-04-25. p. 24.Retrieved2023-06-14– via newspapers.com.
  47. ^"Wisconsin High School Track Athlete Bios: Gabe Jennings".Wisconsin High School Track & Field. 2001-09-08. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-12-24.
  48. ^"Eight Olympians entered in Fifth Avenue Mile".World Athletics. 2006-09-28.Retrieved2023-06-14.
  49. ^"Olympic Runner Gabe Jennings to Speak at Queen University of Charlotte".Mile Split USA. 2008-11-06.Retrieved2023-05-18.
  50. ^"Gabe Jennings".Stanford University.Retrieved2023-05-18.
  51. ^"Students".Ocean University of China.Retrieved2023-06-13.
  52. ^Miller, Larry (2020-07-24)."Golf Notes: Welcome to the club".Fort Bragg Advocate-News.Retrieved2023-06-13.
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