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As an accomplished pole-vaulter, Kevin
James Dare, 19, loved to soar like an eagle. He made this difficult
sport look easy. He had no fear. He was a confident competitor
because thousands of times before, he had sprinted down the runway, planted
his fiberglass pole into the metal planting box, bent the pole, flung
himself up high off the ground to clear the bar, and then he fell back
to earth onto the landing pit. Kevin’s determination along with
his courage, strength, and speed made him a champion and someone to be
admired.
 On February 23, 2002, Kevin, a sophomore at Pennsylvania State
University, was competing in the Big Ten men’s indoor track and filed
championships in the University of Minnesota Field house.
Just before he went to make his first vault of the day he came
up to me and said, “This is my day dad, I feel confident and I am ready”.
They were the last words Kevin spoke to me. Kevin died after hitting
his head on the metal planting box where he had planted his pole
for the jump.
It’s important to know that Kevin was an experienced jumper who
won both the indoor and the outdoor Pennsylvania AAAA State Championship,
the 2001 U.S.T.F. Junior National Championships and represented the United
States in international competitions held in both Argentina and England.
He also was a NIKE High School All-American and is the All-time State
College High School indoor and outdoor record holder in the pole vault
with a vault of 15’9”. He also earned the prestigious Pennsylvania
High School Track and Field Male Athlete of the Year in 2000.
Kevin was one of Penn State’s best vaulters. In just two years,
he placed fifth overall in team history for Penn State’s indoor
all-time performances with a vault of 16’4”. He also placed
fourth overall in team history for outdoor all-time performances with
a vault of 16’6”.
Kevin is remembered as someone who made a difference. He had many
friends in State College and on campus. Kevin was an accomplished
student and athlete at State College High School and had several significant
achievements during his short first two years at Penn State.
Since Kevin’s death needless to say my life has changed and will
never be the same. I not only lost my son that day, I lost my best
friend. I have searched for answers as to why this accident happened
and what could have been done to prevent it. The reality is there
are no answers. I can never have Kevin back and will never see
his incredible smile, laugh at his made for TV comedy, talk about working
together as a father and son team after graduation from Penn State, and
growing old together and looking forward to being a grandfather
to his children. With all of that realized there had to be something else
to fill the void of losing Kevin. I decided this accident could have been
prevented and someone had to do something about it. The main reason is Kevin
would want me to. And so with Kevin by my side in memory, I have
dedicated a large portion of my life to improve the safety of pole vaulting
and to provide a Penn State student athlete with the much needed financial
support to represent PSU as a track and field member.
A short time following the funeral for Kevin, Penn State Athletic
Director Tim Curley came to our home to pay his respect. When he
was leaving our home he made the comment to me that he and Penn
State would be there for the Dare family for what ever we may need. I will
never forget my instantaneous response to him; “help me stop this type of accident
from ever happening again.” From that time on no one has been more
supportive than Tim Curley.
We immediately held a meeting inviting everyone and anyone who wanted
to attend a discovery meeting on what could be done to make the sport
of pole vaulting safer. I was taken back from who took the time to attend
that meeting. We had track and field coaches and sport equipment specialists
from all over the country attend. In the end we had 24 fantastic people
volunteer their time and be there as we discussed what needs to be done
to prevent this sport from being the #1 most dangerous event per capita
in all of athletics. It was that meeting the paved the way for tons of
research on previous accidents, equipment and equipment failure, rules
and regulations concerning the sport, training techniques, manufacturers
etc.
 It’s been 5 years since that awful day in February. It doesn’t
get any easier with time as many people said it would. We all still
miss Kevin and the void is there for the rest of our lives. What
is there now is a sense of accomplishment for Kevin and his memory. We have
made incredible strides in the event of pole vaulting.
We know have the Kevin Dare Memorial Track and Field Scholarship
in place at Penn State and have awarded out 3 scholarships to deserving
student athletes in the past 5 years. Through out our various fund
raising activities we have contributed over $230,000 to the Penn State
Track and Field Team. Something Kevin would be proud of. He was first
and foremost Penn State and thus the scholarship will be a legacy to
him.
We are also very excited that the Kevin Dare Memorial Foundation
has been created for the sole purpose of raising funds that will
be used to research new equipment and facilities and to award
equipment to individuals and schools who are financially challenged and compete
in the event of pole vaulting. It has been the foundation’s efforts
that have lead to major equipment changes and the design of new equipment.
To date, March of 2007, there has not been one fatality since
Kevin’s
death.
We also researched, designed, tested, manufactured and received
certification by the International Track and Field Association,
for the world’s
first flexible planting box, “Soft Box”. Instead of planting
the pole in a metal box imbedded in concrete, the “Soft Box” is
made from space age polymers and is a cushioned padded planting box capable
of absorbing blows rather than causing severe injures. The “Soft
Box” was developed through a partnership with Penn State Athletics,
SkyDex Technologies Inc., The Kevin Dare Foundation and myself.
We know have introduced the “KDMax” pole vaulting helmet.
The “KDMax” is the only pole vault specific helmet manufactured
in the world. The helmet was designed, tested, and funded by Penn
State Athletics, The Kevin Dare Foundation and Enventys Corporation.
A red letter day for pole vault safety came in May of 2006 when the ASTM
finally awarded a standard for the manufacturing of pole vault specific
helmets. Needless to say, Tim Curley and I were at the forefront
in obtaining ASTM certification for a pole vault helmet. There have been
many other changes instituted concerning coaching certification, landing
pits sizes, designs, and padding material, and overall safety awareness
among coaches and parents.
I believe there is still more to accomplish, specifically to have
helmets mandated to be worn in practice and in competition and to move
forward with additional certifications for all equipment utilized in the
event of pole vaulting. As mentioned earlier, my goal is to help save
the lives of others and to support the memory of my son, Kevin.
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