Jeff Benett, the best Oklahoma athlete you’ve never heard of.
On this podcast episode (#99) I sat down with Oklahoma Olympian Jeff Bennett. Myself and Justin Lenhart of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame have partnered up to interview Oklahoma HOF’s to create more awareness for the inductees. Follow the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame @oksportshof.
So who is this Olympic athlete you’ve never heard of? Jeff Bennett was raised in Vinita, Oklahoma, graduated from Vinita High School in 1966. He was the state champion in the pole vault, and placed in the top 3 in long jump during his senior year.
Bennett attended Oklahoma Christian College, 1966–1970, and is considered the greatest athlete in Oklahoma Christian University’s history. While at Oklahoma Christian, he won the NAIA championship in the decathlon in 1969 and 1970. In 1968, he was the NAIA champion in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and was runner-up in the pole vault in 1970. The four-time NAIA All-American still holds Oklahoma Christian records in the 400 hurdles (51.44 seconds) and the decathlon (8,071 points). He received his bachelor’s degree in science education and later completed a master’s degree in school counseling. Bennett was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1976 and was a charter honoree of the Oklahoma Christian Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.
Upon graduation from Oklahoma Christian, Bennett was drafted by the U.S. Army. While in the army, he competed in the army track and field program. He won the International Military Games decathlon in 1971 and qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team in 1972. As a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic Team, Bennett placed fourth in the decathlon with 7,974 points at the Olympic Games in Munich. A bad hurdles race cost him a podium as well as some Russian equipment in the pole vault.
We talked briefly about the terror attack at the Munich Games. He said it was handled extremely well by the authorities; athletes were given one full day off and the games resumed. One fun fact for Bennett, his teammates during the 72'games in decathlon was Bruce Jenner and Jeff Bannister.
The following year he set a personal record of 8,121 points when he won the American Amateur Union national decathlon championship in 1973.
Bennett served as Oklahoma Christian’s assistant track and field coach from 1974 to 1985. He spent 28 years in public education, working as a teacher, counselor and administrator for school districts in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. In 2003, he retired as a lieutenant colonel after serving for 32 years in the U.S. Army National Guard.
Jeff began his second stint as an Oklahoma Christian assistant track and field coach in 2003, working primarily with field event and multi-event competitors. In addition to his coaching duties, Bennett also served as associate dean of students from 2003 to 2016, when he retired from that position.
In 2007, The Oklahoman named Jeff Bennett as one of the top 100 Oklahoma athletes of the state’s first 100 years. Bennett lives in Edmond, Oklahoma with wife, Lisa. They have 2 daughters, Lauren Weeks and Raley Bennett. He continues to coach track and field at Oklahoma Christian University and occasionally drives uber to pass the time.
Thanks for reading, listen to the full episode by searching “This is Oklahoma” on your preferred podcast platform.
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Cheers,
Mike
