after running a personal best of 27:37 in the spring of 2004, kennedy competed in the 2004 us olympic trials in the 10,000 meter race, but had to drop out of the race due to aggravation of an achilles tendon injury he had suffered in the weeks leading up to the olympic trials. after recovering from the injury he briefly tried his hand at the marathon, dropping out of the new york city marathon that autumn and since then has retired from competitive distance running.