John Bennett of Marquette won the NCAA long jump in 1953 and the following year he scored a noteworthy triple by taking the AAU, NCAA and IC4A titles. In 1954 he also won the IC4A high jump. At the 1955 Pan American Games he jumped 26-3¼ (8.01) to become the first white athlete to go beyond the 26 foot (and 8 meter) mark, but this was only good for second place behind Ross Range. As a member of the 4×100 metres relay team Bennett won a gold medal at the 1955 Pan American Games (with the non-Olympians Rod Richard, Willie Williams, and Charles Thomas). Bennett also placed second at the 1956 Olympics and this time it was Greg Bell who defeated him. Bell beat Bennett again at the post-Olympic U.S. vs. British Empire meet. Although competing only occasionally in 1957, Bennett was runner-up in the AAU meet. He retired at the end of the 1958 season and later owned and operated men’s clothing stores in Sun Prairie and Waunakee, Wisconsin.
Personal Bests: HJ – 6-5½ (1.97) (1953); LJ – 26-3¼ (8.01) (1955).
United States