Pennel, John
Track and Field
b. July 24, 1940, Memphis, TN
d. Sept. 26, 1992
On August 24, 1963, Pennel became the first pole vaulter to break the 17-foot barrier, with a vault of 17 feet, ¾ inch. Fred Hansen and Bob Seagren both surpassed that, but Pennel improved the mark to 17-6¾ in 1966. After that was broken, he reclaimed the world record in 1969 with a vault of 17-10¼, which stood until 1973.
Pennel was considered the favorite before the 1964 Olympics, but he was in pain from a slipped disc and could vault only 15-5 to finish 11th. In the 1968 Olympics, his vault of 17-6¾ was good only for 5th place. He retired shortly afterward.
Representing Northeast Louisiana State University, Pennel won the NAIA pole vault championship in 1962 and he was the AAU champion in 1965. He won the 1963 Sullivan Award as the outstanding amateur athlete of the year.
Pennel died of cancer.