BATON ROUGE – Gai Kapernick, the 1994 NCAA Outdoor High Jump Champion and member of the LSU women’s track and field dynasty of the era, died peacefully in her native Australia on Oct. 13. She was 46.
A two-time All-American high jumper during her collegiate career from 1993-95, Kapernick helped score the points that won the Lady Tigers two of their record 11-straight NCAA Outdoor national championships during the 1993 and 1994 seasons. The LSU women claimed 11-straight outdoor titles from 1987-97.
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, 2 ¼ inches at Boise State’s Bronco Stadium, a mark that still stands 22 years later. She also remains LSU’s indoor school-record holder with a best of 6-1 ½ cleared during the 1993 season.
LSU Track and Field sends condolences to the family of Gai Kapernick. Gai still holds LSU school records in the high jump. Gone to soon RIP.
— Dennis Shaver (@LSUCoachShaver) October 20, 2016
She was also a four-time SEC High Jump Champion as a Lady Tiger with a sweep of SEC Indoor and SEC Outdoor titles in 1995 following her first career indoor crown in 1993 and first outdoor championship in 1994. Those performances helped LSU win three SEC team championships during her career, including an SEC Indoor and SEC Outdoor sweep in 1993 before adding another indoor team title in 1995.
Services for Kapernick were held Thursday at St. John Trinity Lutheran Church in Wondai, Queensland.