In what seems like a storybook tale, UCLA sophomore pole vaulter
Yoo Kim prepares to compete in the biggest collegiate meet of the
season, carrying not only the expectations of his team, but the
request of a fallen friend and mentor.
Washington’s Brad Walker, the top American vaulter,
informed his friend Kim that he would have to cut his senior season
short due to a broken hand. Walker asked Kim to take home the NCAA
national title because he no longer could.
Kim, the No. 2 vaulter in the country and most probable Bruin
title contender, has readily accepted the challenge and will head
to Sacramento this week for the NCAA Track and Field
Championships. The championships start Wednesday and last through
Saturday.
“I just feel honored that he called me first,” Kim
said. As competitors in the Pac-10 conference, the two have become
close over the years.
“It was the biggest blow to me to know he couldn’t
be there, because no one deserves it more than Brad. Now, in
my mind, it becomes a race for second, because he’s the true
No. 1,” he added.
Before last weekend’s NCAA West Regionals and
Walker’s injury, Kim had been the leading collegiate vaulter
behind the Husky, but he was beaten by BYU’s Robinson
Pratt.
Though Pratt now holds a personal record that is a quarter inch
higher, Kim is determined to beat the competition.
“I feel like I owe it to myself, to my team and to Brad
Walker, to win it at nationals,” Kim said.
“We’re all sad that Brad didn’t make it
because he’s really been our inspiration all year with his
dedication, heart and soul,” UCLA pole vaulting coach Anthony
Curran added.
“I think Yoo really has the inspiration he needs right now
to go out and do it. And (after being beaten by Pratt) it
definitely got him hungrier to win it.”
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Besides Kim, three other members of the UCLA men’s track
and field 12-man national squad will be in serious title
contention.
Junior Juaune Armon, the No. 5 long jumper, will have to compete
against top-ranked Levand Sands of Auburn. Sands had a season
best last weekend at 27 feet and 2 inches.
Also in competition is USC’s Allen Simms. Though Simms is
ranked second, Armon has beaten him three times in a row this
season.
Also looking for the win on the field will be junior Dan Ames,
the top thrower at last weekend’s West Regional. He
will be competing in both the shot put and the discus, where he is
ranked No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. In the shot, Ames’
toughest challenge will come from Nebraska’s Carl Myerscough
and Missouri’s Christian Cantwell. Both have thrown over 69
feet this season to Ames’ 64-7.60.
On the track, senior hurdler Kyle Erickson will also be a major
point contributor for the Bruins. Last weekend, No. 8 Erickson won
the 400-meter hurdles at Regionals and can be another title
challenger for UCLA.