Former K-State star Erik Kynard can’t add to Olympic medal collection

Erik Kynard’s quest for a second Olympic medal came up short Tuesday night in Rio de Janeiro.

Kynard, a former All-American at Kansas State, finished sixth after clearing 7 feet, 6 inches – the same height that bronze medalist Bohan Bodarenko cleared. Kynard had two missed at Tuesday’s opening night, and that pulled him down in the standings.

Kynard won silver in the high jump four years ago in London.

Derek Drouin of Canada has won the gold medal Tuesday at a height 7-8, adding the Olympic title to his world championship victory last year.

The 26-year-old Drouin, who won bronze at the London Olympics, was clean through his first five heights and, after clinching the gold medal, stopped after missing one attempt at 7-8 1/2 to start his celebrations.

Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar, who shared the Olympic bronze in 2012 and had the leading mark of the season entering the Olympics, took the silver.

Bondarenko of Ukraine, the 2013 world champion, missed twice at 2.38 and then passed and raised the bar to 2.40 in a bid for gold. He balked at his first run up and then walked into the bar, ensuring Drouin would take the gold.

This story was originally published August 16, 2016 at 11:03 PM with the headline "Former K-State star Erik Kynard can’t add to Olympic medal collection."