LANDOVER, Maryland -- U.S. Olympic high jump silver medalist Erik Kynard was on hand to encourage and inspire young people competing at the USATF Hershey Youth Indoor Championships at Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex, Saturday.
 
“I think the USATF Hershey Youth Indoor Championships is a great platform for children to be introduced to the sport of track and field with a competitive edge and a learning experience,” said the guest of honor about USATF’s annual indoor event, which draws more than 2,500 kids ages 7-18.
 
The event began Friday with national titles, national records and two runoffs with live coverage on USATF.TV. 
 
“Track and field can be very different as far as the learning curve is concerned,” he continued, “so getting kids started early is a great advantage.”
 
Kynard (Manhattan, Kansas) won the silver medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games after clearing 2.33m/7-7.75. He is also a two-time USATF National Champion and a two-time NCAA Champion.
 
So what would he tell the young athletes competing?
 
“The advice I would give to kids here at the USATF Hershey Youth Indoor Championships is to fall in love with the process and the results will come. I think too often as athletes and as track and field athletes, we focus on running this fast or jumping this high or this far and not the actual process. I think as track and field athletes, a lot of times we are inventors. We are trying to create something we have never done. Allowing yourself to focus on the process and not the end result will be a little more progressive for you in your career.”