WICHITA — As the high jump bar got higher, so did the tension.
Yates Center High’s Kal Hamm found himself in a Class 2A high jump showdown with a host of competitors, most prominently, Ian Duncan of Pittsburg-St. Mary’s Colgan.
Hamm and Duncan matched each other jump-for-jump, as they cleared 6 feet, then 6 feet, 2 inches, 6’4” and finally 6’6” at Wichita State University’s Cessna Stadium. They were the only two competitors to make it that far.
That it took each three attempts before clearing the bar at 6’6” proved key when both missed all three chances at 6’8”.
That prompted a “jump-off,” in which officials lowered the bar an inch at a time until either could successfully clear it.
Problem was, both competitors were visibly exhausted by the time the jump-off started.
“The heat was killing us,” Hamm noted.
Neither came close to clearing the bar at 6’7”, nor at 6’6”.
Still, Hamm mustered enough energy when the bar was lowered a final time, to 6’5”. After Duncan’s miss, Hamm cleared the bar with room to spare, to win the gold medal.
A remarkable scene filled the high jump pit after Hamm won gold. He grew emotional, accepting congratulatory hugs from friends and teammates.
“His face was lit up like a star,” Yates Center track coach Dan Berg said.
The gold was Yates Center’s first at state since Brandon Hubbard won the discus in 2005.
Hamm’s gold medal was the highlight of the day for the Wildcat track squad, which wound up 13th overall.
Nearly joining him at the top of the medal stand was Brett Holloway in the triple jump.
Holloway took second in the triple jump with a leap of 41’5”.
Holloway finished 9 inches behind Ell-Saline’s Justin Schmutz, despite a lengthy delay before the jumpers competed in the finals.
