Larkin High coach makes cut for reality TV show
With an eight-week summer break from teaching, Andrew Boyce is trying on a different role for size -- reality TV star.
Boyce, of West Dundee, the 43-year-old physical education and health department head at Larkin High School in Elgin, is ranked No. 1 in the country among U.S. Track and Field competitors of his age in the high jump and No. 2 in the long jump.
He's also been selected to compete in the track and field reality show "TRACK Live," to be aired by Fox Sports just after the summer Olympics.
The reality show has renowned track and field athletes ages 32 to 52 participating in a series of elimination meets, vying for cash and prizes to give to their former high school track and field programs.
Athletes are coached by past Olympians including discus gold medalist John Powell, 400-meter hurdler LaTanya Sheffield and former Olympic coach David Johnston.
During the trial round, held May 17 and 18 at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Boyce took first place in both the high jump and long jump -- jumping 1.91 meters and 6.1 meters, respectively, he said.
At about 105 degrees that weekend, "it was hotter than hot," Boyce said. "But with the crowd cheering and watching me jump, the adrenaline rush was definitely there."
Beginning with 100 athletes, 52 are left in the competition.
On Monday, Boyce will head out to take part in round two of the competition in Fresno, Calif. If he makes it through the June 21 meet, he'll go on to a July 19 meet. If he is one of the top eight competitors in that meet, he'll head to the finals Aug. 2.
The father of two trains at 5 a.m. each day on Larkin's basement track.
In addition to standard jumping, running and lifting, Boyce builds stamina by dragging around a weighted tire attached to his waist, doing flat-footed jumps over hurdles and "frog leaps" with 40 or 50 pounds attached to his back.
"It's like a dungeon down there," Boyce said. "The higher I jump, the more conscious I am of the ceiling."
A serious competitor for more than 20 years, Boyce holds high jump records at downstate Aledo High School and at the College of DuPage, where he cleared 7 feet, 1 inch.
Always jumping off his right leg, Boyce recently experienced problems with his right knee. Over the winter Boyce, endured his fourth reconstructive knee surgery with the understanding he could no longer jump off his right leg.
Instead of throwing in the towel, Boyce simply switched legs, teaching his body to jump from his left side.
Boyce says he's psyched for his summer adventure.
Despite early success, he says he won't let a first-place finish lure him into a false sense of security.
"I won by quite a margin last time, but I know the (others) are going to get better," he said. "Sometimes it's best to be the underdog, because you have nothing to lose."