Latest news with #KamptonKam
New Paper
11-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Kampton Kam breaks 30-year national high jump record
Just days before the 2025 South Florida Invitational, national high jumper Kampton Kam faced uncertainty about competing in the meet. The Singaporean had felt discomfort in his knee on his take-off leg after he "tweaked" it on April 7. On top of his fitness issues, Kam, an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, also had to take a test - which was worth 30 per cent of the grades for a class - on the day of his trip to Florida. However, demonstrating resilience and determination, he overcame this setback to set a new national outdoor high jump record by clearing 2.25m on April 11, surpassing the previous mark of 2.22m held by Wong Yew Tong since the 1995 SEA Games. He said: "Despite all this, I felt in the right headspace. I felt excitement going into the meet instead of hesitation and apprehension over whether my knee was going to flare up, I just let it take its course." During the warmup, Kam was encouraged after clearing 2.15m, and his coach Joseph Klim boosted his confidence by saying, "I think you're going to jump 2.25m today". He began the competition at 2.05m, then cleared 2.10m, 2.15m and 2.20m in succession. Eventually, only Kam and Grand Valley State University's Jaivon Harrison remained in the competition, and the bar was raised to 2.25m. Both competitors failed their first two attempts at the new height. On his third try, Kam felt his body make contact with the bar. After landing on the mat, he watched anxiously as the bar wobbled slightly, appearing to move in slow motion. Drawing from his years of experience, Kam felt confident the bar would remain in place - and it did. After securing the win ahead of Harrison (2.20m) and Jonathan Rankins-James (2.05m), he attempted to rewrite his unversity's record of 2.29m, but he did not clear the height. But Kam had already achieved a goal that he been chasing for years. On rewriting the national record, he said: "I've had many instances along the way, people have told me you're almost there, be patient. "Yew Tong told me at the World University Games in 2023, 'Hey, the time is coming, to be patient, be healthy and it's yours. I'm rooting for you to get this record, it's been too long'. "For me it's not so much about my achievement but more of this ardent support I've had over the years." Former women's high jump record holder Yu Long Nyu, who began coaching Kam at age nine, praised Klim and his US-based team. "The record boosts his SEA Games podium chances and Olympic dreams," she said. "Last year's injuries were challenging, but acupuncture has proven effective. With Singapore Sport Institute's support in maintaining his fitness, his training results have improved significantly." The support from his coaches, friends and family has been crucial amid the setbacks he faced. At the Singapore Open in April 2022, he came close to the national mark with a 2.20m effort. But months after, a collapsed lung forced him to withdraw from the Hanoi SEA Games. After a year that brought news of his mother's cancer and failure to qualify for outdoor regionals, 2024 hit Kam with sesamoiditis and stress injuries to his wrist and back, forcing him to miss multiple outdoor meets. Now, following a strong outdoor-season start, the holder of national Under-18, Under-20, and indoor records aims to compete in World Athletics Continental Tour silver and gold events. His 2.25m achievement positions him favourably for June's National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletics competition, where he currently ranks first among collegiate competitors. Additionally, he aims to secure a universality spot for September's World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, while also targeting participation in the World University Games in July and the SEA Games in December. Kam said: "It hasn't really settled in my mind that 2.25m is No. 1 in the NCAA, 20th in the world, because to me it's always not been about that number, it's more about how can I always improve to reach my best and be the best version of myself. "I'm just really excited for the rest of the year."
CBS News
25-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Junior high jumper Kampton Kam hoping to win big during 129th Penn Relays
From high school students to Olympians, about 17,000 athletes are competing at this year's Penn Relays. A Penn Track and Field team's high jumper is hoping to win big during the 129th running. "I'd say this is a stadium that, you know, radiates a lot of history, culture and tradition," Kampton Kam said. Franklin Field is a second home for Penn juniors. "It's just amazing that I get to practice here every day," Kam said. "You know, when the weather is good." The high jumper from Singapore has broken several records over his 15-year career. Earlier this month, he broke a Singapore national record and became the top-ranked high jumper among NCAA Division 1 athletes. "He's just a really good athlete. He brings a lot of speed to the event," Steve Dolan, the head coach of Penn's men's and women's track and field teams, said. "He brings a lot of enthusiasm to it, and he's very technically sound. He's a very smart guy, and just continues to improve in his craft." Now Kam's sights are set on Penn Relays. "This year, coming in with the 225, I'm hoping to go home with the gold watch," Kam said. Kam's journey began 15 years ago, at the age of 9, back home in Singapore. "I think this desire came about as I was a kid watching the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore," Kam said. In the years since, he has shattered national records. However, his journey has not been without setbacks. The high jumper has faced everything from health concerns to his mom's battle with cancer. "One thing that changed my mindset in college was seeing my mom so close to death, and that kind of made me want to give it my all with the remaining time that I have left in the sport," Kam said. Today, he says his mom is doing better, and she'll certainly be cheering him on thousands of miles away. "This kind of has been the best decision in my life, coming to Penn and I have no regrets, but definitely need to say the road that's traveled," Kam said. Kam is set to compete at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in the college men's high jump championship.
