On May 21, we debuted the fourth in a series of reader polls asking who you consider the best high school boys track and field athlete in Wisconsin history, with 10 primary suggestions. We received more than 700 votes, and here’s how people voted:
Kenny Bednarek voted as most impactful athlete in Wisconsin high school boys track and field history
Former Rice Lake standout Kenny Bednarek was the readers choice for the best boys track and field athlete in state history after receiving 189 votes.
Bednarek was a seven-time gold medalist at the WIAA state track and field championships over his high school career, three-peating in both the 200-meter and 400-meter events from 2016 to 2018. He also won a 100-meter dash in 2018. His preliminary 100 time of 10.42 seconds set a Division 2 state record, while his 200 time (20.43) and 400 time (46.73) were all-division records that stand to this day.
After high school, Bednarek won silver in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2024 Paris Olympics in the 200. He has also represented the United States in the World Athletics Championships, World Relays and Diamond League.
While Bednarek was the top choice, he wasn’t the only popular one.
Here’s how you voted.
Our top 10:
Here are the other names suggested as the most impactful in Wisconsin history
With the option to select someone other than our group of 10, we received numerous write-in submissions, including many who received more than one vote.
Others with 2 or more votes
Floyd Heard, Milwaukee Marshall: 13
Joshua Dickerson, D.C. Everest: 9
Brad Johnson, Brookfield East: 9
Kenny Harrison, Brookfield Central: 7
Steve Lacy, McFarland: 5
Pat Matzdorf, Sheboygan North: 5
Gabe Jennings, Madison East: 4
Kevin Bledsoe, Milwaukee South: 2
Grant Dean, Neenah: 2
Robert Hackett, Milwaukee Rufus King: 2
Acquine Jackson, Milwaukee Tech: 2
Chris Lutzke, Valders: 2
Centrell Minter, Milwaukee Vincent: 2
Joe Thomas, Brookfield Central: 2
Cordell Tinch, Bay Port: 2
B.J. Tucker, Nicolet: 2
Roger Van Scotter, Elkhorn: 2
Paul Voss, Clinton: 2
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kenny Bednarek voted most-impactful Wisconsin high school boys track athlete
Reporting by Zac Bellman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
