Alumnus on chase to represent Team USA in 2024 Olympics

Former Detroit Mercy student-athlete Ben Kendell '18, '19 is set to become the fifth Titan male to compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials. Kendell, who starred in track and field and cross country at the University, is slated to run in the marathon Saturday, Feb. 3 in Orlando, Fla. The top three finishers qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.

Kendell qualified for the U.S. trials running a time of 2 hours, 15 minutes, 47 seconds at the California International Marathon on Dec. 2, 2022. He has been running professionally with Hansons-Brooks Distance Project since 2019.

The son of two Titan student-athletes, Kendell credits UDM with pushing him in his post-graduate pursuits. He graduated with two Engineering degrees from the University and succeeded both athletically and academically at Detroit Mercy.

"I was very happy to find my niche at Detroit Mercy," he said. "I know bigger schools have more resources, but being able to achieve and push yourself with what you have definitely prepared me for this and my career.

"The people excelling in running post collegiately are not all big-school runners. It is people who stick with it and who know how to compete with that nose to the grindstone mentality."

Kendell is looking to become the seventh member of the University community to represent their country on the highest stage. Others include Titan basketball Hall of Famer Spencer Haywood '69, who won a gold medal for the U.S. in 1968, fencing Hall-of-Famers Dan Cantillon '69 and Tyrone Simmons '74, softball's Kaleigh Rafter for Canada, Pat Costello '51, a silver-medalist in rowing, and Jeanne Stunyo, who won a silver medal for the U.S. in diving in 1956.

Full story on Kendell's journey as a Titan and competitive runner.