Vault Brief
By Daily Bruin Staff
Feb. 25, 2002 9:00 p.m.
Fatality at Penn State sparks reaction
Kevin Dare, a 19-year-old Penn State sophomore, fell during a
pole vault attempt Saturday and hit his head. He never regained
consciousness and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a
local hospital.
Witnesses said Dare tumbled backward, headfirst, onto the metal
“˜”˜box”, the area 8 inches deep that is
used to plant the pole.
“It’s a sport that does have some risk of
injury,” said Anthony Curran, UCLA’s pole vaulting
coach. “The injury that happened is a fluke.”
Dare, a sophomore from State College, Pa., had won the pole
vault in the U.S. junior championships in June, clearing 16-6
3/4.
In light of the fatality, the remainder of the Big Ten
men’s indoor championships were called off Sunday and will
not be rescheduled.
Tracy O’Hara, UCLA’s leading pole vaulter, was
“devastated” by the news.
“I can’t even believe it, but it’ll probably
be the only thing I’ll hear in my pole vaulting
career,” she said.
A pole vaulter was killed in a similar accident in the 1993
Sioux City, Iowa, relays.
“Pole vaulting is probably the most dangerous sport in
track and field, but that’s what makes it such a great
sport,” said Curran.
“I’m one of those coaches that will go out and spot
athletes if they’re jumping on big poles in practice and make
sure that we’re safe, and I think that’s what we all
need to do.”
Reports from Daily Bruin Staff and wire services.
