Huntley Project 8th-grader raises the bar

[jp1667]

"Huntley Project 8th-grader raises the bar," Written by Vika
Friday, 13 May 2005, By MIKE ZIMMER, Of The Gazette Staff

http://vapolevault.com/index.php?option ... &Itemid=35

Steve McMorris knows a good pole vaulter when he sees one.

The Huntley Project track coach and 1989 Laurel grad was a three-time state champ himself in the event and one of the few vaulters in Montana prep history to clear 15 feet.

Eric Buer is not even in high school yet, but he already fits the bill.
"He's the best young vaulter I've ever seen," said McMorris matter-of-factly.

"He's gone over 13 feet several times and he vaults 12-6 consistently. He would probably finish second or third in the state meet this year if he could go … and I wish he could."

The 5-foot-6, 115-pound Buer didn't start pole vaulting until last year. His best vault as a seventh-grader came up just short of 10 feet, but he took off this spring.

"Eric is exceptionally strong for a kid his size … he bench presses 175 pounds," said McMorris. "He just has a natural gift for the event. One of the biggest things in pole vaulting is having an instinct for knowing when to get upside down and being comfortable with being upside down that far off the ground. Eric has that instinct."

That instinct runs in the family. Garrett Buer, Eric's older brother, is the only Class B pole vaulter to clear 14 feet this season.

"They're just great kids and they love the event," said McMorris. "They are so focused on pole vaulting and on doing it right and always working to improve. We have a springboard runway that we use to practice the pole vault indoors, so Garrett and Eric are working at it all the time.

"They're team-oriented kids and hard workers. Garrett will probably be in six events for us at state."