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Track and field notebook Inspired Gallaher
Monday, January 22, 2007
DOUG BINDER
At the Pole Vault Summit, held annually in Reno, Nev., pole vaulters take center stage and have the spotlight all to themselves.
Boisterous crowds -- many of them other vaulters -- spur on athletes with rhythmic clapping while music blares inside a theater at the Grand Sierra Resort hotel. Friday night, the top 10 vaulters competing in the elite sections were treated like rock stars. On Saturday, 15 runways were kept busy all day long.
It's like a convention for pole vaulting. This year's event included 2,200 competitors of all ages. There were also various classes and clinics.
"On one hand it's easy to do well because it's such an inspiring atmosphere," Concordia University junior Jessie Gallaher said. "But at the same time there's a lot of pressure because everyone's watching you. And everyone knows when you've messed up."
Gallaher won the women's top college section Saturday with an indoor personal best of 13 feet, 71/2 inches -- making her the collegiate leader at all levels so far this season. Gallaher is the reigning NAIA outdoor national champion. Her clearance qualifies her for both the NAIA Indoor National Championships and the USA Track and Field Indoor National Championships.
Gallaher had a seat on the stage to watch the top vaulters on Friday.
"It's very emotional," she said. "Everyone gets inspired. Then you go to sleep dreaming about how you're going to do (the next day)."
Gallaher, who is coached by Willamette Valley Striders coach Rick Baggett, is on the cusp of her first 14-foot clearance.
"It's just a matter of cleaning up a few things until I'm there," Gallaher said.
Oregon's four-time national champion, Tommy Skipper, had a spot in Friday's limelight and placed fifth in the elite section -- first among collegians -- clearing 18-1/2. Two former Oregon vaulters, Becky Holiday (14-5 1/4) and Nikki McEwen (14-1 1/4), placed third and sixth, respectively, in the women's elite competition.
Oregon senior Emily Enders cleared 13-31/2, bettering her personal best by four inches and moving to fourth on the Ducks' all-time list. Also Saturday, freshman Eniko Eros made her debut for the Ducks and cleared 12-31/2. For the men, redshirt senior David Moore cleared 15-7.
Facilities update: The first 110-foot light poles were installed at Hayward Field this week, part of a $3.4 million lighting improvement project that will get the track ready to meet the demands of TV coverage when the 2008 Olympic Trials come to Eugene in June of 2008. Eight light poles and a total of 540 halide lamps will brighten Hayward Field and enable the venue to host televised meets at night. . . .
