Track Star Kent Herkenrath Succumbs To Cancer

Kent Herkenrath, one of the most versatile sprinters during the early days of San Jose State’s “Speed City” dominance in track and field who later went on to own and operate an internationally-known sports memorabilia shop, died of cancer at age 69 on March 28 in Honolulu.

The native of Portsmouth, Iowa, enrolled at San Jose State in 1957 as a transfer student from Cypress College in Southern California and joined the track team. The sprinter and hurdler would go on to compete for the Spartans as a multi-point scoring threat in the 100, 220 and 440 yard dashes, the 110 and 220 hurdles and the 440 and mile relay races during his major college career.

His Spartan track career was filled with highlights. As a junior, his fourth place finish in the 220 low hurdles at the 1958 NCAA Track and Field Championships propelled San Jose State to a then-best fourth-place team finish. The following year, as the San Jose State team captain, the Spartans were second to Kansas at the NCAA Championships in Lincoln, Neb.

In dual meet competition, Herkenrath is best remembered for his 220 low hurdles win over University of California great Willie White at Edwards Stadium that was the impetus to the Spartans’ breath-taking 66-65 team win over the Golden Bears.

Herkenrath also ran the third leg of San Jose State's first 440 relay team to crack the 40.0-second threshold. Sprint great Bobby Poynter, Chuck McNeil and Olympian Ray Norton teamed with Herkenrath that raced to a 39.7 pushing the University of Texas to a 39.6 winning time at the 1959 Modesto Relays.

His bests of 9.7 in the 100 and 21.4 in the 220 dashes complemented his 22.9 in the 220 low hurdles and his 48-second 440 times.

The 1959 San Jose State graduate majored in education according to his son, Mike Herkenrath, managed several successful and profitable businesses, had a keen interest in sports history and served in the Marine Corps before opening The Fan Club memorabilia store in 1985. The Fan Club boasted more than 15,000 members internationally.

Herkenrath vigorously supported San Jose State University athletics through regular contributions to the Spartan Foundation fund drive and various fund-raising auctions.

He is survived by sons John Herkenrath of Honolulu and Mike Herkenrath of Campbell and three grandchildren.

Donations in Kent Herkenrath’s name can be mailed to the Spartan Foundation, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192.