University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications
Selmon Returns As Volunteer Assistant Coach
September 28, 2018 | Track & Field
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — After capturing a World Cup title in London, Kenny Selmon joins Carolina track & field once again, this time as a volunteer assistant coach. Selmon will also continue training with Coach Abigi Id-Deen as he starts his professional track career and his former coaches, now coworkers, are thrilled to see what he will bring to the team in his new roles.
"Kenny Selmon was a member of our first recruiting class," UNC head coach Harlis Meaders said. "Identified because of his excellent athletic abilities, his personal integrity and his desire to be challenged in the classroom and athletically. He has accomplished nearly all of the goals that he set as a freshman. He has obtained an undergraduate degree from the Kenan Flagler School of Business; his name is listed at the top of the UNC Record Books; he has stood on the NCAA podium along side the best student athletes in the country. He has had the privilege of running for the Team USA and is now beginning his career as a professional track and field athlete and is ranked among the top-10 400-meter hurdlers in the world. He is uniquely qualified to help us mentor the next group of champions on our team since he has walked the campus and the path that they are attempting to navigate. I am delighted that he has chosen to serve as a volunteer on our staff and to continue to give back to the university that has provided him so many opportunities."
The 2018 Athletics World Cup Champion and the 2018 USATF National Champion in the 400-meter hurdles, Selmon has plenty of experience to share with his former teammates and the freshmen athletes striving to achieve success at the highest levels. During his time at Carolina, Selmon qualified for four NCAA East Preliminary Rounds and five NCAA Championships while collecting five All-America accolades, 10 All-ACC honors and six spots in the UNC top-five all-time records.
Selmon continuously set the bar from the moment he stepped on campus up until his final race in a UNC singlet. At the end of his senior season, he earned a career-best NCAA runner-up finish in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Selmon clocked a new personal-best time of 48.12 in the final, one year after breaking a 22-year-old school record in the 2017 NCAA Outdoors. Selmon also captured his fourth and fifth conference titles at the 2018 ACC Outdoor Championships, cruising through the 400-meter hurdles and running a leg of the winning 4x400 relay.
Selmon earned two other top-five all-time marks in his final season. He ran Carolina's fourth-fastest indoor 400 time of 46.63 and helped a second indoor 4x400 lineup go down in history with the fourth-fastest time of 3:07.57. Prior to those stellar performances, Selmon had earned two spots in the relay records during his freshman year — a third all-time ranking in both the indoor and outdoor 4x400 relays. Two years later in 2017, Selmon reunited with two of the members of the historic 2015 outdoor relay and anchored the 2017 4x400 relay whose time of 3:04.27 ranks second all-time at UNC.
As if winning conference titles and setting school records was not impressive enough, Selmon finished first in each of his 400H appearances in 2018 before the NCAA final.
"I know Coach Meaders is very careful about who he allows on his staff so it is quite an honor for him to let me join alongside," Selmon said. "I know the fire that these athletes have inside of them and I can't wait to see it spill out. I am most excited to start my professional career, but having the opportunity to still help out on the team makes staying around Chapel Hill that much sweeter. I love this place and this team."
Selmon began his international career well before taking the world 400H title in London, England. As a sophomore in college, he took 13th in the 400H semifinals at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials with a time of 50.76. In 2015, Selmon won the 400H competition as captain of the USA Junior Track & Field Team and he was a silver medalist at the Pan-American Junior Athletics Championships.
Even in high school, the Mableton, Ga. native stood out, committing to Carolina as the No. 1 hurdler in his class. Selmon was a seven-time state champion and three-time All-America in the 400H. To top it all off, he captained the 2014 World Junior USA Team, earned the title of 400H national champion in in 2014 and earned bronze at the 2013 World Youth Championships in the 400H.
Kenneth Joseph Selmon is the son of Angela and Bill Selmon. His father, Bill, was an All-American wrestler for Nebraska and his brother played basketball for Bates College.
"Kenny Selmon was a member of our first recruiting class," UNC head coach Harlis Meaders said. "Identified because of his excellent athletic abilities, his personal integrity and his desire to be challenged in the classroom and athletically. He has accomplished nearly all of the goals that he set as a freshman. He has obtained an undergraduate degree from the Kenan Flagler School of Business; his name is listed at the top of the UNC Record Books; he has stood on the NCAA podium along side the best student athletes in the country. He has had the privilege of running for the Team USA and is now beginning his career as a professional track and field athlete and is ranked among the top-10 400-meter hurdlers in the world. He is uniquely qualified to help us mentor the next group of champions on our team since he has walked the campus and the path that they are attempting to navigate. I am delighted that he has chosen to serve as a volunteer on our staff and to continue to give back to the university that has provided him so many opportunities."
The 2018 Athletics World Cup Champion and the 2018 USATF National Champion in the 400-meter hurdles, Selmon has plenty of experience to share with his former teammates and the freshmen athletes striving to achieve success at the highest levels. During his time at Carolina, Selmon qualified for four NCAA East Preliminary Rounds and five NCAA Championships while collecting five All-America accolades, 10 All-ACC honors and six spots in the UNC top-five all-time records.
Selmon continuously set the bar from the moment he stepped on campus up until his final race in a UNC singlet. At the end of his senior season, he earned a career-best NCAA runner-up finish in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Selmon clocked a new personal-best time of 48.12 in the final, one year after breaking a 22-year-old school record in the 2017 NCAA Outdoors. Selmon also captured his fourth and fifth conference titles at the 2018 ACC Outdoor Championships, cruising through the 400-meter hurdles and running a leg of the winning 4x400 relay.
Selmon earned two other top-five all-time marks in his final season. He ran Carolina's fourth-fastest indoor 400 time of 46.63 and helped a second indoor 4x400 lineup go down in history with the fourth-fastest time of 3:07.57. Prior to those stellar performances, Selmon had earned two spots in the relay records during his freshman year — a third all-time ranking in both the indoor and outdoor 4x400 relays. Two years later in 2017, Selmon reunited with two of the members of the historic 2015 outdoor relay and anchored the 2017 4x400 relay whose time of 3:04.27 ranks second all-time at UNC.
As if winning conference titles and setting school records was not impressive enough, Selmon finished first in each of his 400H appearances in 2018 before the NCAA final.
"I know Coach Meaders is very careful about who he allows on his staff so it is quite an honor for him to let me join alongside," Selmon said. "I know the fire that these athletes have inside of them and I can't wait to see it spill out. I am most excited to start my professional career, but having the opportunity to still help out on the team makes staying around Chapel Hill that much sweeter. I love this place and this team."
Selmon began his international career well before taking the world 400H title in London, England. As a sophomore in college, he took 13th in the 400H semifinals at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials with a time of 50.76. In 2015, Selmon won the 400H competition as captain of the USA Junior Track & Field Team and he was a silver medalist at the Pan-American Junior Athletics Championships.
Even in high school, the Mableton, Ga. native stood out, committing to Carolina as the No. 1 hurdler in his class. Selmon was a seven-time state champion and three-time All-America in the 400H. To top it all off, he captained the 2014 World Junior USA Team, earned the title of 400H national champion in in 2014 and earned bronze at the 2013 World Youth Championships in the 400H.
Kenneth Joseph Selmon is the son of Angela and Bill Selmon. His father, Bill, was an All-American wrestler for Nebraska and his brother played basketball for Bates College.
Players Mentioned
Sprints/Hurdles
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