Toledoan Kynard shines on 'Letterman'

Rogers grad and Olympic silver medalist, Erik Kynard, Jr., left, laughs it up with talk show host David Letterman on Thursday night.

Olympic men’s high jump silver medalist Erik Kynard Jr. leaped into late-night TV on Thursday night when he appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman.

The Rogers High graduate was a guest on the long-running, late-night talk show, which airs nightly at 11:35 on CBS affiliate WTOL, Channel 11. (View clip here.)

Kynard, 21, discussed with Letterman his Olympic experience, which included finishing in second place at the 2012 Olympic Games held last week in London. He cleared 2.33 meters (7.64 feet) to secure a silver medal.

“It might be the socks,” replied Kynard, when Letterman asked him to explain his secret to high-jumping. Kynard wears colorful red, white and blue socks during competitions.

Letterman told Kynard that his favorite track and field event is the high jump competition and he watched the Olympic men’s high jump live on a computer.

“I love the high jump,” Letterman said. "… Olympics is the high jump.”

The show was actually taped on Wednesday in New York City. Comedian/actor Tracy Morgan and musician Ben Howard were also guests. (View full episode here.)

Kynard returned home from New York on Thursday afternoon and Toledo Public Schools has scheduled an Olympics homecoming ceremony in his honor for Saturday morning at Rogers. A parade is set to start at 11 a.m. from McTigue Elementary, 5555 Nebraska Ave., and proceed to the Rogers football field. TPS officials, coaches, family members and Toledo elected officials are expected to attend the free event open to the public.

Kynard a two-time NCAA high jump champion, plans to return to Kansas State University this weekend to begin his senior year.

Contact Donald Emmons at: demmons@theblade.com, 419-724-6302 or on Twitter @DemmonsBlade