KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan Athletics will induct the 2015 Hall of Fame class on Friday, Oct. 9 at the Fetzer Center and this week wmubroncos.com will take a look at each of our inductees: Vinton Bennett (men's track & field), Shelly Klare (women's basketball), Bob Learman (men's tennis), Eldon Miller (men's basketball), Robert Sanford (football) and Kelly Thayer (softball).

VINTON BENNETT A native of Toronto, Ontario, Bennett is a two-time All-American high jumper and still holds the program record in the event at 7'5 ¾”, also a Mid-American Conference record. Bennett claimed MAC titles in the event in 1992, 1994, and 1995 to cement himself as the best in program history and one of the best in MAC history. He placed third overall in 1991 at the NCAA Championships and then third again in 1992 during his All-American seasons. Bennett also got to represent Canada in the high jump at the 1991 Pan-Am Games and finished sixth overall. In addition to lettering in track and field, he also was a four-year letter winner in basketball.

Q & A with Vinton Bennett

Q: What is a memory that sticks out from your time at WMU?

A: Just arriving on campus. Being an international student, so that first memory of the first memory of the whole campus atmosphere. Arriving on campus, living on campus, being the first time away from home that was a big experience for me.

The way I started doing track was a big thing for me. I was on a basketball scholarship, during basketball practices I'd walk by and see one of the track guys working out. They would be teasing me and coaxing me to try to get me to come out for the track team, despite having no interest in joining the track team.  Just for fun I ended up taking a couple of jumps in the high jump pit and that was it, it all started from there.

Q: Why did you choose WMU?

A: I liked the atmosphere when I arrived on campus for the visit. I liked the way the campus was laid out and the people were great. The programs that they were offering were what I was interested in, like the business program. It just seemed like the perfect fit for me.

Q: Who made your time special at WMU??

A: I'd have to say my teammates. I was also very close to Coach (Bob) Donewald and his son Bob Donewald Jr. I was very close with them and it made my time very enjoyable.

Q: What was your reaction to being inducted?

A: I was totally shocked, to tell you the truth. A friend of mine, Jason McKenzie, who did track around the same time as me and he found me somehow. He had visited me a couple of years back and didn't have my address. He came out, about a two-hour drive, looking for my place from memory. He drove half-way across the city based on where he thought I had lived before. The fact that he found me and told me that I was being inducted was pretty amazing, to see him and then to hear that I was being inducted. I was shocked.

Q: How did you handle the challenge as a two sport athlete?

A: There were some challenges, but with the way the seasons fell I was able to start outdoor track at after the basketball season. But putting in the extra time to make sure you had your course work done, that's where the challenge was. There was a lot of traveling all year round so you had to balance your time between sports and academics.

Q: Track and the high jump allowed you to represent Canada at the Pan-Am Games. Can you describe the special feeling of being able to represent your country at such a high level?

A: It's really a great opportunity and I was fortunate enough to get the chance. Being there amongst the other Canadians and athletes was great. I got to room with Donovan Bailey, who went on to set the World Record in the 100 meter dash. It was just interesting being around all the other teams. I knew guys on the Canadian basketball team and a lot of up and coming athletes on other teams, like Grant Hill. It was really special.