Linfield University Athletics

Though he attended Linfield only two years, Ken Weinberg made a lasting mark on the Linfield track and field program during the early 1990s.

“Ken Weinberg is at least partially responsible for the rebirth of track and field at Linfield,” said Dr. Garry Killgore, his college coach. “What sets Ken apart is he’s a very gifted athlete, a great competitor, and a tough individual.

Weinberg was runner-up for the NAIA national decathlon championship in 1992, finishing second by a scant three points. He earned NAIA All-America recognition that spring. His school-record 7,113 points in the decathlon stood for 16 years before being broken last spring by Linfield national champion Josh Lovell.

Weinberg began his college career at Linn-Benton, following Killgore to Linfield in 1990. By the time he graduated in 1991, Weinberg had come within an eyelash of a national championship, earned district athlete of the year honors, and was singled out as Linfield’s 1991 Male Athlete of the Year.

“He was generally very coachable,” said Killgore. “He placed a lot of trust in me as his coach and that made it so he could really flourish.”

He held the NAIA District 2 record in the decathlon, was the Northwest Conference pole vault and javelin record holder.

At one time, Weinberg held Linfield records in the javelin, pole vault, 4x100-meter relay and the decathlon.

A native of Albany, Weinberg earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He went on to become a teacher and swimming coach at Benson High School in Portland.