Kansas State University Athletics
Kynard Claims Sixth USATF Indoor High Jump Championship Last Weekend
Feb 18, 2020 | Track & Field
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Former Wildcat Erik Kynard, Jr., continued to solidify himself as one of the greatest high jumpers in the world, as the two-time NCAA champion held off the field at the 2020 USATF Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., to claim his sixth indoor high jump national championship on February 14.
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A silver medalist at the 2012 London Olympics, Kynard posted a jump of 2.26m/7-5 on his first attempt to gain the advantage over competitor Shelby McEwen, who missed his first attempt at the height. It is Kynard's 10th USATF national title between the indoor and outdoor championships.
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"We have basically done preparation work and his strength levels are good but not where they will be so to perform as he did was good and basically what I expected," said Director of Track and Field Cliff Rovelto.  "Including a couple of home meets where the first was jumping from a half approach and the second meet being his first full approach jump session in a couple of years, this year's indoor nationals was his first real competition in a while. He got injured at the 2018 USA Outdoor Championships. He has now won 10 national championships and had won five indoors in a row prior to his injury. Prior to 2018 when he got hurt, he had been the top ranked high jumper in the US pretty much every year since 2012."
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Representing Brand Jordan during the event, Kynard returned to the top podium spot after being injured in the 2018 outdoor season due to Achilles' injury, prohibiting him from earning a potential seventh-straight high jump title. However, he owns the record for most consecutive titles in the men's high jump event at a USTAF competition (five).
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During his collegiate career at K-State, Kynard was named a USTFCCCA All-American all four years (2010-2013) in both the indoor and outdoor campaigns while obtaining back-to-back NCAA Outdoor High Jump Championships in 2011 and 2012. Both of his indoor and outdoor school records are still intact since he left in 2013. He also notched six first-place finishes between the indoor and outdoor seasons at the Big 12 Championships.
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Another former Wildcat that was represented over the weekend was A'Keyla Mtchell, who placed sixth overall in the women's 400-meter race.
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The 2019-20 Wildcat group is currently preparing for their last home meet of the season inside Ahearn Field House as the team hosts the Steve Miller Open on Saturday, February 22.
For the latest on K-State Track and Field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
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A silver medalist at the 2012 London Olympics, Kynard posted a jump of 2.26m/7-5 on his first attempt to gain the advantage over competitor Shelby McEwen, who missed his first attempt at the height. It is Kynard's 10th USATF national title between the indoor and outdoor championships.
Â
"We have basically done preparation work and his strength levels are good but not where they will be so to perform as he did was good and basically what I expected," said Director of Track and Field Cliff Rovelto.  "Including a couple of home meets where the first was jumping from a half approach and the second meet being his first full approach jump session in a couple of years, this year's indoor nationals was his first real competition in a while. He got injured at the 2018 USA Outdoor Championships. He has now won 10 national championships and had won five indoors in a row prior to his injury. Prior to 2018 when he got hurt, he had been the top ranked high jumper in the US pretty much every year since 2012."
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Representing Brand Jordan during the event, Kynard returned to the top podium spot after being injured in the 2018 outdoor season due to Achilles' injury, prohibiting him from earning a potential seventh-straight high jump title. However, he owns the record for most consecutive titles in the men's high jump event at a USTAF competition (five).
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During his collegiate career at K-State, Kynard was named a USTFCCCA All-American all four years (2010-2013) in both the indoor and outdoor campaigns while obtaining back-to-back NCAA Outdoor High Jump Championships in 2011 and 2012. Both of his indoor and outdoor school records are still intact since he left in 2013. He also notched six first-place finishes between the indoor and outdoor seasons at the Big 12 Championships.
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Another former Wildcat that was represented over the weekend was A'Keyla Mtchell, who placed sixth overall in the women's 400-meter race.
Â
The 2019-20 Wildcat group is currently preparing for their last home meet of the season inside Ahearn Field House as the team hosts the Steve Miller Open on Saturday, February 22.
For the latest on K-State Track and Field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
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