K-Stater Erik Kynard finishes sixth in Olympic high jump

Former Kansas State high jumper Erik Kynard’s bid for a second consecutive Olympic medal did not materialize Tuesday, as the 25-year old took sixth place in the Games’ high jump finals.

Canada’s Derek Drouin won gold as the only jumper to clear 2.38 meters (7 feet, 10 inches), while Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim took silver at 2.36 meters (7-9). Ukraine’s Bohdan Bondarenko won bronze after clearing 2.33 meters (7-8) on his first try.

Kynard, like Bondarenko, cleared 2.33 meters. But it took the former Wildcat three tries.

“It’s disappointing, because you always want to win,” Kynard said after Tuesday’s competition. “You want to go out there and have your best performance. I didn’t have that tonight.”

After taking two tries to clear 2.25 (7-5) meters on Tuesday, Kynard cleared 2.29 (7-6) on the first jump.

With a chance at a medal on the line, Kynard knocked the bar at 2.33 meters down twice before clearing it on the third try and advancing.

Kynard missed his first try at 2.36 meters while Drouin and Barshim cleared it. Two failed tries later, Kynard’s medal dreams were dashed.

Kynard, the 2012 silver medalist in London won the silver medal in the high jump by clearing 2.33 meters on his first try. He would have tied for the bronze with that same result on Tuesday.

“It’s one of those things that can go either way,” he said. “Whoever has the better day can win on any given day.”

This story was originally published August 17, 2016 at 9:34 AM with the headline "K-Stater Erik Kynard finishes sixth in Olympic high jump."