Kynard Ready to Rise to Top Spot in U.S. Indoor Meet

Published by the Portland Tribune on March 8, 2016

When he’s floating through the air nearly eight feet above the ground, Erik Kynard doesn’t feel like Superman or a creature of flight. 

It’s more like a sliver of meditation. 

“It’s a place for a moment of peace,” says Kynard, the favorite to claim the high jump title in this weekend’s U.S. Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Oregon Convention Center. “You feel free. You’re not up there for very long — maybe a tenth of a second. But it’s a peaceful and graceful time.” 

While the spiritual aspect is a welcome diversion, it’s the thrill of competition that draws Kynard to his craft. 

“I do track because I enjoy the competitive nature of the event, and the self-accomplishment involved,” says Kynard, 25, the reigning U.S. outdoor champion and 2012 Olympic silver medalist. “You’re out there to better yourself, to create something you’ve never created, but you’re also trying to beat everyone else. It’s a very competitive and trying event.”