Justin Germani article (PA)

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.berksmontnews.com/site/news. ... 2989&rfi=6

Germani vaults to state meet
By: Matt Dietterick
03/08/2007
Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendly
Advertisemen

Many people may think from an outside perspective that the general sport of track and field and the specific sport of pole vaulting are easy. We've all seen it on television many a times. There seems to be a group of individuals and they all do their separate thing, like running (easy enough), where it seems you just, you know, run.
Pole vaulting, on the other hand, looks easy. You just run, stick the pole into what looks like a pit, and get enough lift on the pole to get over the bar.
However, according to Daniel Boone senior pole vaulter Justin Germani, it's a little bit more complicated than that.
"I started in track and field and pole vaulting in seventh grade. I was very influenced by both my brother and uncle because they both vaulted. I mainly stick to pole vault, but if needed, I will fill in wherever the track team needs me."
Germani then elaborated on how pole vaulting is interesting to him, and how the sport sucked him in. "The acrobatics of pole vaulting drew me into it. A lot of the sport has to do with body control and technique. It's a pretty rare sport."
Germani said that he was guided through the sport. "Lance Atkins has helped me very much. He is the main coach that helps me and he lives in Sinking Spring. He is the head guy at Fiber Benders, where I train."
Atkins has camps throughout the summer and teaches anyone who wants to learn. Also, in the winter, there are pits set up at Ozzie's FunCenter.
Germani also mentioned that, "Pole vaulting was hard at the beginning. It's a really complicated sport, and there is a technique to it."
Along with competing at meets for Daniel Boone, Germani participated in the indoor states February 24 at Penn State University where he seeded tied for third after he placed first at the high school invitational (14'-6") at Lehigh University a week earlier.
Germani elaborated on his experience at the state tournament at PSU.
"I jumped 14'-6" and got fifth place. If I would have made all my jumps on the first attempt, I would've placed second. First place got a mark of 15'-0."
Speaking of tournaments, Germani spoke about the difference between a regular meet against another school and a tournament, such as the states.
"A regular meet is one team versus another. In a tournament, there are more teams, so there is more competition. Preparation-wise, there isn't much of a difference between the two. The physical preparation would be the same, but for a tournament, you have to be more mentally prepared.
"You have to have your mind set in the right spot, and you have to be confident in your vault. Personally, I picture what I want to do in my mind and then go for it."
Developing as a track athlete and a pole vaulter is another thing that Germani touched upon. He also commented on if not having a winter track coach, or a team, for that matter, made it any more difficult to develop and prepare for meets.
"My coach (Lance Atkins) has helped me develop," said Germani. "I went to him in the eighth grade and have been with him since. Also, not having a track coach at school hasn't been a problem. I go to my regular coach (Atkins) all year, so it helps me prepare. We also don't have a winter track team at school, so I do all my preparation at Fiber Benders."
Germani then commented on what qualifying for the Penn Relays has meant to him.
"That qualification means that all the hard work that I put into this sport has paid off. It also gets me closer to my long term goals. Those goals included winning the outdoor state meet and to be picked for the Golden West Meet."
The Golden West Meet is a big track meet, and roughly eight kids from around the nation are picked to compete.
In order to qualify for the outdoor state meet that one has to place in the top five for districts in order to go to states.
He continued then about the Penn Relays that "they are bigger than a regular tournament, and there is better competition."
Germani then spoke about whether or not the whole sport of track and field and pole vaulting are an individual or a team sport.
"Pole vaulting is both an individual and team sport. In tournaments, in pole vaulting and track, you are trying to beat yourself (a time or a mark), and in team events, you try and get points. You are set against not so much other teams, but other athletes."
Germani continued that in light of his view that track and pole vaulting is both individual and team oriented, teammates have helped him develop as a better vaulter and track athlete.
"They help me by giving me encouragement and support. The people that I consider my teammates are those that I practice with at Fiber Benders. Coach Atkins also helps me develop physically and mentally. We go over videos to help with technique, and we hold consistent practices to build confidence going into a meet.
"We also set goals for each individual meet or tournament. An example would be a height I want to reach. A strategy that would go along with those goals would be how long of a run I'm going to take, which is five to eight left steps.
"The stiffness and weight of the pole is another strategy. There are different lengths and stiffnesses. The lighter the pole, the more penetration into the pit you will have, and the heavier the pole, the heavier it will be to bend and will uncoil faster and give you more lift. It's really complicated, and it is really a complex sport."
College is another complex issue that Germani is ready to tackle. "I'm looking at Kutztown and I've already been accepted there, but I'm not 100 percent sure.
"I'm also undecided on what I want to study there, but I definitely want to pole vault in college. The equipment is expensive and most schools aren't willing to pay for that one event."
Whatever Germani decides to do is up to him. However, from looking at what he has accomplished, and looking at what all goes into pole vaulting, one can see that it is a very complicated sport, and even with saying it himself, it seems that Justin Germani has it figured to a T.