Kenta Bell

Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
Events: Triple Jump
Personal Records: TJ - 17.63m/57-10.25 (2002); LJ - 8.05m/26-5 (2000)
Born: March 16, 1977 in Kilgore, Texas
Current Residence: Decatur, Ga.
High School: Kilgore (TX) HS '95
College: Northwestern State University '00


Career Highlights: 3rd at 2007 USA Outdoors; 2006 USA Outdoor runner-up; 2005 USA Indoor & Outdoor runner-up; 2003 USA Outdoor champion; 3rd at 2004 Olympic Trials; 6th at 2003 World Outdoor Championships; 2001 World University Games gold medalist

His first name is pronounced Ken-TAY. Kenta attended college in Northwestern State University and
is the Southland Conference’s second-best all-time indoor triple jumper (16.60m/54-5.50), trailing only 1984 Olympic gold medalist Al Joyner of Arkansas State (16.78m/55-0.75). He is coached by Randy Huntington, the former coach of world long jump record holder Mike Powell. He was a criminal justice major in college.


2007: 3rd at US Outdoor Championships (16.87m/55-4.25).

2006: USA Outdoor runner-up (17.19m/56-4.75)…runner-up at Geneva (17.29m/56-8.75)…3rd at Nike Prefontaine Classic (16.84m/55-3w)…9th at Stockholm (16.20m)…8th at London Grand Prix (16.02m)…ranked #3 in U.S. in TJ by T&FN…best of 17.29m/56-8.75.

2005: 2nd at USA Outdoors (16.82m/55-2.25)…7th at World Outdoor Champs (17.11m/56-1.75)...1st at Payton Jordan U.S. Open (16.93m/55-6.5)…1st at adidas Track Classic (17.09m/56-1)…USA Indoor runner-up (16.86m/55-3.75)...ranked #2 in U.S. by T&FN…best of 17.11m/56-1.75.
2004: 3rd at Olympic Trials TJ (17.57m/57-8.25)…9th at Olympic Games (16.90m/55-5.5)…1st at Mt. SAC (17.40m/57-1)…1st at El Paso, Texas (17.19m/56-4.75)…wind-aided mark of 17.76m (58-3.25)…ranked #6 in world (#1 U.S.) by T&FN…best of 17.58m/57-8.25 .
2003: USA Outdoor champion (17.59m/57-8.5 U.S. Leader)…6th at World Outdoors (17.08m/56-0.5)…3rd at USA Indoors (17.06m/55-11.75)…1st at IAAF Japan Grand Prix (17.01m/55-9.25)... ranked #7 in world (#2 U.S.) by T&FN…best of 17.59/57.8.5.
2002: USA Indoors TJ runner-up (16.95m/55-7.5)…4th in LJ at USA Indoors (7.54m/24-9)…2nd in LJ at Erfurt (7.94m/26-0.75)…1st in TJ at Mt.SAC (17.63m/57-10.25PR, #1 by an American in ‘02)…ranked #3 in the TJ in the U.S. by T&FN…bests of 7.94m/ 26-0.75 and 17.73m/57-10.25PR.
2001: World University Games gold medalist (17.24m/56-6.75)…5th at USA Indoors (16.15m/53-0)… 9th at World Indoors (16.13m/52-11)…4th at USA Outdoors (16.80m/55-1.5)…ranked #4 in U.S. by T&FN…bests of 17.24m/56-6.75 and 7.90m/25-11.
2000: 11th at Olympic Trials (16.12m/52-10)…ranked #7 in TJ in U.S. by T&FN…best of 17.22m/56-6.75.
1999: 4th at USA Outdoors in TJ (52-7.25), 10th in LJ (7.63m/25-0.5w)…11th at NCAA Outdoors in LJ & 8th in TJ…Southland Conference outdoor champ in TJ, runner-up in LJ…ranked #6 in U.S. by T&FN…bests of 54-2.5 & 26-0.
1998: SLC champ in TJ, runner-up in LJ…18th in LJ at NCAA Outdoors, no mark in Triple Jump…bests of 15.85/52-0i & 7.88m/25-10.25w.
1997: Best Long Jump mark of 7.64m/25-0.75.