After competing in his third World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (WEIO), Parker Kenick is setting his sights on a world record. The 19 year old earned first place in this year’s Alaskan High Kick event with 94 inches. With more training, Kenick hopes to beat the 96 inch record set by Brian Randazzo in 1984.
While others have matched Randazzo’s record, Kenick hopes to be the first to beat it. The Nome-native will lean on over 10 years of experience in native games to accomplish the feat. Kenick competed in Native Youth Olympic (NYO) events throughout middle and high school. This well-rounded background has prepared Kenick for the big stage.
“The games are more meant for personal growth and to learn from all of the people around you,” Kenick said. “So now, it’s not about tuning out all of the nervousness, all the people, whether you’re sore, or feeling weak or shaky. I kind of learned to embrace it.”
At Kenick’s first WEIO appearance in 2022 he only competed in the Toe Kick. The event mimics ice floe hopping, with competitors broad jumping with their feet together. Adding technicality to the event, they must first tap a stick placed ahead of them with both of their feet before sticking the landing. Kenick finished second in 2022’s event with a 60-inch score. In 2024, he improved his score to 70 inches and earned first place.
His improvement in the Toe Kick is part of a larger trend for the young athlete. In the Two-Foot High Kick, Kenick improved his score from 7 feet 8 inches to 8 feet 2 inches between 2023 and 2024. He also bested last year’s One-Hand Reach score by 2 inches.
Kenick credits the support of a Native Games Club at his school, University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), for his growth. The club meets with an advisor once a week for practice and trains together twice a week at the campus’s Student Recreation Center. During the summers when he returns to Nome, Kenick regularly visits the Nome Recreation Center to stay in shape.
Kenick said training the fast-twitch muscles needed for the games takes a combination of building strength and technique.
“I do a fair share of weightlifting as supplemental work. That definitely makes my potential go higher,” Kenick explained. “I need to continue to practice to actually implement it and change my technique around it.”
Kenick’s dedication to native games extends beyond personal achievement. He aims to inspire others to adopt healthier habits and understand the interconnectedness of physical, mental, spiritual, and social health.
“I think that all aspects of our health whether it's mental, physical, spiritual, social are all connected. These native games I think are perfect for that because it definitely taps into social, your spiritual, into your physical health and everything. I would advocate for everybody to try the sports. But if not, I would like everybody to find something that helps them understand all parts of their health.”
- Parker Kenick
Kenick has set his sights on both the Alaska High Kick and Canada-style One-Foot High Kick world record. He says he will accomplish his goals through training and perseverance.
