Jon Rankin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jon Rankin

Personal information
Nationality	American and Caymanian
Born	(1982-02-09) 9 February 1982 (age 43) Spring Valley, San Diego, California
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	65.8 kg (145 lb)
Sport
Country	Cayman Islands
Sport	Track and field
University team	UCLA Bruins
Club	Nike Team Run LA
Coached by	Joaquim Cruz
Retired	2012
Achievements and titles
National finals	2001 USA Track & Field Junior National Championships (1,500 m – 1st)
Personal best(s)	800m: 1:47.01 1500m: 3:35.26 Mile: 3:54.24
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  United States (until September 2009)  Cayman Islands (since October 2009) CAC Championships Bronze 2011 Mayagüez 1500 m

Jon Byron Rankin (born 9 February 1982) is a retired track and field runner. He competed in middle and long-distance races. Jon was born in America, but later represented the Cayman Islands.

A big moment in his career was winning the USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He also won the 2007 Emsley Carr Mile race in England. Today, Jon is the CEO of Go Be More, a company that designs clothing. He also works as a copywriter.

Early Life and College Career

Jon Rankin grew up in Spring Valley, California. He went to Monte Vista High School. After high school, he attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). There, he studied English language.

At UCLA, Jon became a top runner for his team in 2004. He was also named an All-American athlete. In 2005, he achieved a major milestone. He ran a "sub-four-minute mile," meaning he finished a mile race in under four minutes. This is a very impressive feat for runners. He was the 17th African American to do this. Jon graduated from UCLA in 2005.

Professional Running Career

Becoming a Pro Athlete

After college, Jon Rankin became a professional athlete. He was sponsored by Nike. This allowed him to train and compete in races across the United States and Europe.

On August 11, 2007, Jon won the Emsley Carr Mile race in Manchester, England. He set his personal best time for the mile at 3 minutes, 54.24 seconds.

In 2008, Jon faced a health challenge. He was diagnosed with a rare kidney condition. This diagnosis came around the time of the United States Olympic Trials. In 2011, he had a special surgery to help with his condition.

Switching Countries and Retirement

On October 1, 2009, Jon decided to represent the Cayman Islands. He was able to do this because both of his parents were born there. He continued to compete for a few more years. Jon retired from professional racing at the end of 2012.

In 2015, Jon Rankin received a special honor. He was inducted into the National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame. This recognized his achievements in running.

Personal Best Times

Jon Rankin achieved impressive times in various running distances:

Major Competitions and Achievements

Jon Rankin had several notable performances in his career:

• In 2001, he won the 1500 metres at the USA Track & Field Junior National Championships. He was representing the United States.
• In 2007, he won the Mile race at the Emsley Carr Mile in England.
• In 2011, while representing the Cayman Islands, he earned a bronze medal. This was in the 1500 metres at the Central American and Caribbean Championships.
• He also competed in the Commonwealth Games in 2010. He ran in both the 800 metres and 1500 metres.
• In 2011, he participated in the Pan American Games. He placed 7th in the 800 metres and 4th in the 1500 metres.

Career Outside of Running

After his professional running career, Jon Rankin used his skills in other ways. He became a freelance senior copywriter. A copywriter writes text for advertisements or marketing materials. Since 2018, he has been the chief executive officer (CEO) of two companies. These companies are Go Be More and Catchy Content Co.

See also

• List of Caymanian records in athletics