Nov. 27, 2007

Former Illinois men's track and field star Herb McKenley passed away on Monday, Nov. 26 in Kingston, Jamaica. He was 85.

An Olympian in 1948 and 1952, McKenley won four Olympic medals - silver in the 400m in both 1948 and 1952, silver in the 100m in 1952 and gold in the 4x400m relay in 1952.

McKenley was the first athlete to medal in the 100-meters and the 400-meters at the same Olympic games, and remains the only man to reach the Olympic finals in the 100, 200 and 400-meters. He set a world record in the 440 yard dash in 1947 and 1948, and also held the 400-meter record in 1948.

Born in 1922 in Clarendon, Jamaica, McKenley went on to coach the Jamaican national track and field team from 1954 to 1973 and is considered one of the country's greatest-ever athletes and ambassadors.

McKenley starred at Illinois from 1946 to 1947, ending his career as an eight-time Big Ten Champion and four-time NCAA Champion after winning the 200-meter and 400-meter titles at both the 1946 and 1947 NCAA Outdoor Championships.