How Louisiana State University’s sports website reported Gai Kapernick’s passing (Photo: LSUsports.net)

October 21, 2016

The recent death of a former Tansey resident is also being mourned more than 13,000km away … in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Gai Michele Kapernick died peacefully on October 13 at age 46.

A funeral service was held at St John Trinity Lutheran Church in Wondai on Thursday.

The former athlete earned a major report on the Louisiana State University website, celebrating her high-jumping achievements at the college.

LSU Sports noted that Kapernick was the 1994 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) outdoor high jump champion.

She was two-time All-American high jumper during her college career from 1993-95, and scored the points that helped the (LSU athletics team) Lady Tigers to back-to-back NCAA Outdoor national championships during 1993-94.

Kapernick was crowned the NCAA Outdoor Champion in the women’s high jump in the 1994 season when she cleared a school-record height of 6 feet, 2¼ inches at Boise State’s Bronco Stadium, a mark that still stands!

She also still holds the LSU’s indoor school record with 6 feet, 1½ inches cleared during the 1993 season.

Kapernick also competed in the green and gold, jumping at championships in Greece, England, Hungary and Spain.


 

2 Responses to "Obituary: Gai Kapernick"

  1. RIP Gai. Coaching you was my honor at LSU. Our family will never forget you – Rock and Shanny Light, TJ and Brett

  2. I spent hours chatting with Gai. She was a great friend and mentor. We both shared a love for books. I will always remember Gai when I think of the book, The Power Of One. Rest In Peace, Gai.

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