FOR RELEASE: Thursday, August 27, 2009
Kinesiology Professor Competes in Decathlon
Jack Kern, clinical associate professor of kinesiology, competes in the high jump and pole vault.
In his job as a clinical associate professor of kinesiology, Jack Kern teaches physical education courses to University of Arkansas students studying to be teachers. He's been pretty physically active most of his life, too.
"He talks the talk, walks the walk and jumps the jump," said Sharon Hunt, head of the department of kinesiology, recreation and dance. She was referring to Kern's recent performance in the U.S. Track and Field Masters Decathlon Championship in Seattle.
Competing in the age 50-54 bracket, Kern placed fourth in the decathlon. The 50-year-old may have missed medaling but Kern took home other rewards from the experience.
"I've always wanted to do a decathlon," he said. "I'm sort of a jack of all trades (no pun intended). Instead of being strong in one particular event, I'm pretty good at several."
The decathlon consists of four running events, three throwing events and three jumping events. In high school and at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Kern competed in track and field. Playing tennis has been his main physical activity since his college days.
"Last fall, I decided to do this," he said. "I did a little training every other day. I recruited some former students to help with everything."
Several of his kinesiology students have also been college athletes, Kern said. Former Razorback pole vaulter Jodi Unger gave him tips on the vault, and Michelle Dosier helped him with the discus throw and shot put.
"There are some differences in the masters division," he explained. "They lower the hurdles and reduce the weights of the throwing implements."
Kern competed in six masters events through the spring and summer.
"I wanted to be sure I was prepared and to get some competition under my belt," he said. "I found I could hold my own."
Although the people who entered in Seattle were competitive, they were supportive, too.
"That was the neatest thing," Kern said. "Everyone wanted to do well but they know this is a real challenge to do at age 50. Everyone was supportive; if anyone got hurt, they were concerned. It wasn't the cutthroat environment that you may experience in college."