Donald Kern earned a total of eight varsity letters from 1976-1979, four in track and field and four in cross country. He was a four-time cross-country team Most Valuable Player and the 1978 track team MVP.
In 1979 Kern was the East Coast Conference champion in the 1,000-yard run when he won the event in a record time of 2:12.54. In the same year, Kern was Drexel’s indoor record holder in the 440, 600, 880, 1,000 and mile events. He also ran a leg on the record-setting spring medley team. Kern also holds the mark in the outdoor 800-meter run (1:51.34).
In 1977, Kern was named to the All-East and All-IC4A Teams and finished 12th at the IC4A cross country championships. One year later, he finished 18th overall at the ECC Championships. He was a three-time qualifier in the 880-yard run and the first Drexel trackster to reach and IC4A indoor final.