Kenneth Andam facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Ekow |
| Full name | Kenneth Ekow Andam |
| Nickname(s) | Sky |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Born | 8 January 1976 Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana |
| Residence | United States |
| Alma mater | Brigham Young University Colorado Technical University St. Augustine's College, Cape Coast |
| Occupation | Athlete |
| Years active | 1992 - 2005 |
| Employer | WorldVuer, Inc. |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Weight | 73.00 kilograms (161 lb) |
| Other interests | Entrepreneur |
| Website | http://www.kennethandam.com |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | Track and field |
| Event(s) | 100 metres 200 metres 4 × 100 metres relay Long jump Triple Jump |
| University team | BYU Cougars |
| Coached by | Willard Hirschi |
| Retired | Retired |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | 100 m: 10.12 sec (2000) 200 m: 20.47 sec (2001) |
| Updated on 24 August 2012. | |
Kenneth Ekow Andam, born on January 8, 1976, is a former sprinter from Ghana. He was a talented athlete who competed in big events like the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. While studying at Brigham Young University, he was recognized as an All-American in track and field, which is a top honor for college athletes.
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Kenneth Andam's Life
Kenneth Ekow Andam was born in Takoradi, Ghana, on January 8, 1976. His parents are Kenneth and Janet Andam.
Athletics Career
Early Athletics Career
Kenneth Andam showed great talent in track and field from a young age. In 1995, he won the triple jump at the African Junior Athletics Championships in Bouaké, Ivory Coast. He jumped 15.63 meters, which was a fantastic achievement. That same year, he also won the Long Jump at the West African championships in Banjul, Gambia. Andam even set a new record in the triple jump for his region in Ghana, jumping 16.02 meters. He was named the best male athlete at that competition.
College Sports Journey
Andam went to Brigham Young University (BYU) where he became a star athlete for the Cougars track and field team. He competed in the 100 metres, 200 metres, 4 × 100 metres relay, and the long jump. By 2012, he held some of the top ten best marks in BYU history for these events. He even helped set a school record in the 4 × 100 relay in 1999 with his Ghanaian teammate Leonard Myles-Mills, finishing in 38.88 seconds.
Andam earned many awards during his college career. He received honors from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and the Mountain West Conference (MWC). He was also recognized with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) All-American Honors. As of 2011, he held MWC records in the indoor 60 metres and 200 meters, and the outdoor 100 meters and 200 meters.
In 1999, Andam was ranked among the best college athletes in the nation for the 100 and 200 meters. He won the WAC championship in the long jump and the 4 X 100 relay. During the 1999 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship, his relay team, ranked number one, made it to the finals. Unfortunately, Andam got injured before the finals, and the team finished third.
He faced another injury in January 2000 but recovered well. He performed so strongly that he was named the Mountain West Conference Men's Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week twice. That season, he won the MWC championships in the 100 and 200 meters. He also qualified for the 2000 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship in the 100 meters and 4 X 100 relay.
At the 2001 Mountain West Conference championships, Andam received the Men's High Point Award for earning the most points for his team. Before the 2001 NCAA Track and Field Championships, he was ranked 8th in the nation for the 100 meters. In the finals, he finished 7th with a time of 10.39 seconds.
International Competitions
Kenneth Andam also represented his home country, Ghana, in major international events. In 1999, he competed in the 200 meters at the World Championships in Seville, Spain.
The following year, at the 2000 African Championships in Algiers, Andam won two medals. He earned a bronze medal in the 100 meters and a gold medal as part of Ghana's 4 × 100 relay team. At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, he competed for Ghana in the 4 X 100 relay.
Andam also participated in the 100 meters at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, Canada. He performed well, making it to the quarter-finals. He just missed qualifying for the semi-finals, finishing fourth in his quarter-final race with a time of 10.26 seconds.
Athletic Records
Outdoor Events
| Distance | Time (seconds) | Wind | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 metres | 10.12 | + 0.4 m/s | Utah | June 2001 |
| 200 metres | 20.47 | + 2.0 m/s | Utah | May 1999 |
| Long jump | 7.67 m | + 1.2 m/s | Los Angeles | May 1998 |
| Triple jump | 16.02 m | + 0.0 m/s | Ghana | May 1995 |
Indoor Events
| Event | Best | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 metres | 6.12 s | Idaho | February 1998 |
| 60 metres | 6.59 s | Utah | March 2003 |
| 200 metres | 21.07 s | Colorado Springs | February 1998 |
| Long jump | 7.62 m | Colorado Springs | February 1998 |
