Kevin Calhoun 15-0 (NC)

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http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/200 ... pole-vault

Calhoun tops own school record in pole vault

By Mike Duprez
The Dispatch

Published: Monday, April 27, 2009 at 11:27 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, April 27, 2009 at 11:27 p.m.
WELCOME | Kevin Calhoun knocked over the bar and failed to tie his school-record pole vault of 14 feet, 6 inches in a meet last Thursday. But Saturday was a different day for the best pole vaulter in North Davidson history.

Not only did Calhoun equal his school record, he passed it with a vault of 15 feet in a meet at East Forsyth’s Eagle Track Classic.

“I’m pretty excited,” Calhoun said during a signing ceremony for three fellow Knight track stars on Monday. “I’m just glad I could do a little higher than my junior year last year. I didn’t want to go out thinking I had maxed out in my junior year.”

Stephen Hodapp of Butler also jumped 15 feet and won the meet based on fewer misses at other heights.

But Calhoun’s vault ties him with Hodapp as the best in the state this season.

“It’s just awesome,” said North coach David Driggers. “He’s looking at a couple of schools and maybe walking on at Carolina. I told him to do that, he had to get to 15 feet. He’s working very hard. He finally did, and I’m tickled to death.”

So is Mark Calhoun, Kevin’s father. Mark Calhoun was a prep pole vaulter 30 years ago in Florida and his best height was 13 feet.

“The more he does, the better,” said Mark Calhoun. “I’m just proud of him for sticking with it. Thirty years ago, it was a feat. We’re looking for more from him.”

During regular-season meets, Kevin Calhoun has won easily, and his main competition has been himself. In the meet last Thursday, all the competitors had already been eliminated before Calhoun even started vaulting at 13 feet. After nailing down the win, Calhoun tried to go 14-6 but couldn’t make it, leaving him clearly frustrated.

That all changed Saturday when Calhoun used a new rented pole and competed at a different locale.

“It’s just a matter of finding the right pole,” said Calhoun, who has been accepted at UNC. “It’s weird. Sometimes I don’t do as well at school. I can’t go up with the big poles. So I go to other schools and blow right through it. It’s just a matter of getting the right stuff, doing the right thing.”

Scott Houston of Northwest Guilford holds the state record pole vault at 16 feet, set last season.