EUGENE, Ore. – The first day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships saw one Wildcat do something no pole vaulter has done in more than 30 years and one strong performance in the first five events of the decathlon as well. Back-to-back Big 12 champion Kyle Wait entered the NCAA Championship ranked No. 7 in the field and looking to improve on his showing from a year ago when he missed the opening height. Wait responded to the challenge after passing the opening height and cleared the next two bars on his first attempt. By clearing 5.50 meters (17-8.50) on his first attempt it was enough to put him in a four-way tie for seventh place. “I’ve said all along I think Kyle is extremely, extremely talented,” said K-State Head Coach Cliff Rovelto. “He is blessed with physical gifts, and we haven’t had anybody that is blessed with the kind of physical gifts that he has. It’s not even close. So, it doesn’t surprise me at all that he is able to do what he is doing. There’s a difference between having the ability to do it and then making it happen and getting it done, and he’s doing that. I think he is doing a phenomenal job.” By finishing in that tie for seventh and earning ¾ of a point, Wait becomes the first Wildcat to score in the pole vault for the men’s team since Doug Lytle finished second in 1982. Wait was proud of his performance but also motivated to continue getting better for himself and K-State. “I can’t be too upset about it. It was fun. I’m happy but not satisfied,” Wait said. When Wait was told of his achievement being the first time since 1982 a Wildcat has scored in his event, he was surprised and encouraged by the accomplishment in that it shows K-State is a program that should be recognized as a threat across the board. “That’s pretty cool (to score for the first time since 1982),” Wait said. “We have a great program. Why not do it in every event?” more
