Lee Pole Vaulter Takes Regional Title To State Meet (TX)

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Lee Pole Vaulter Takes Regional Title To State Meet

(Staff File Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.)
PULL IT BACK: Robert E. Lee senior Callie Giffin competes at the Tyler Lee Relays earlier this year at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. Giffin will compete Saturday in the pole vault at the UIL Track and Field Championships in Austin. Giffin enters with the second-best vault in Class 5A after winning the Region II Meet last month with a leap of 12-1.
By CHRIS PARRY
Staff Writer

What began as "something fun to do" has led Robert E. Lee senior Callie Giffin to the state track meet.

Giffin enters as the 5A Region II pole vaulting champ, and her 12-feet, 1-inch winning height gives her the second-best vault of all competitors entering this weekend's UIL State Track and Field Championships. The pole vault is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the University of Texas at Austin campus.

During her freshman year, Giffin approached REL head girls coach Dennis Baker about being a pole vaulter.

"I saw it in middle school and I really wanted to do it, but we weren't allowed to," said Giffin about her desire to pole vault. "Coach Baker told me in ninth that I could pole vault for him, so I really just had a curiosity for it."

During REL's first practice in 2004, Giffin grabbed a pole, took her place at the end of the straightaway and went for it, going full speed to try and clear six feet.

"At that point we were looking for anyone to pole vault," said Baker said. "I don't remember her first vault attempt, but I am sure it wasn't pretty. But she was up to 8-6 by the end of her freshman year and got second place at the district meet."

Once she cleared her first height, Giffin said she was hooked.

"It's probably one of the coolest things ever because you get to fly through the air and you just feel invincible when you finally plant a pole and get over the bar," Giffin said.

She won silver medals in the district meet as a freshman and sophomore, but didn't complete a jump at regionals as a sophomore. Last year, Giffin was able to clear 10-0, but that was only good enough for fourth at the District 12-5A meet.

"At first I was doing it for fun, but then I really liked it and I wanted to continue to do it," Giffin said. "Up to last spring, I did basketball and a lot of stuff, so I could only (pole vault) three months out of the year.

"Right after district when I only got fourth, I said I want to do this seriously, so I did summer track, (vaulted) throughout the whole entire fall and did indoor season."

Giffin began working after last year's district meet with a personal record of 10-5. Her current PR now is 13-0, giving the senior one of the top outdoor vaults in the nation.

She sets her sights now on dethroning her friend and occasional workout partner, Shade Weygandt of Mansfield.

Weygandt, the top qualifier in 5A, vaulted 13-2 to win her regional meet and surpassed 13-6 at an indoor meet, the best in the nation at that time for indoor or outdoor.

"We went all indoor season (against each other)," Giffin said. "I have come close, but I haven't beaten her yet, so I really want to.But I also want to really get a higher height, that's my goal. I would take me making 13-6 and she making 13-9 and me making a PR. But I still want to beat her."