Calvert runner-up at NCAA III Pole Vault
May 22, 2008

Photo courtesy: Mark Adkins

Junior Kyle Calvert is now a four time All-American in the pole vault after his second place finish at the 2008 NCAA III Championships. He has twice been in the top eight during the indoor season (8th in 2006, 3rd in 2007) and was seventh during the 2007 outdoor meet.

On Thursday evening, Kyle went 16'-3 1/4", good for second place, four inches below the winning height. Two other competitors, Scott Decker of Lynchburg College and Michael Bina of North Central College, equaled the runner-up height. Calvert won the tiebreaker this time, after losing out on the tiebreaker for the NCAA Indoor championship back on March 14th.

The junior, who has completed his academic work, finishes his Loras career with four memorable NCAA meets. "I felt like I really executed things today and I'm happy with the second place finish," Kyle said over the phone Thursday night. "I worked through my steps in warm-ups and had my footwork ready when it was time to go."

The pole vault, which often comes under scrutiny for its liability concerns and has fewer athletes lining up to take part compared to other events, has been a part of Kyle's experience at Loras and under his coach, Dick Hefel. "Coach is sometimes a quiet guy," Calvert said. "But when he speaks, you need to listen. When he opens up, you know it is going to be something helpful, and he's the reason why I've achieved the heights I have."

Often times there are a lot of familiar faces around the runway during meets, especially on the regional level where the student-athletes often compete regularly against each other. "Some of the guys I compete against I've known even going back to high school. We are certainly trying to reach our own individual goals and win events, but we all encourage each other and want to see each other do well. In the end, one of us is going to win it, and walking around giving people the cold shoulder just isn't any fun as a competitor. I've enjoyed it a lot."