Casey Kaufman Article (PA)

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.susqu.edu/orgs/crusader/week ... ctionID=18

Senior jumps into record books
"Her leadership is very valuable to the team." - Head coach Marty Owens

By Wendy McCardle
Staff Writer


Casey Kaufmann is not only the school record-holder for pole vault, but she is also one of the most humble and modest Crusader athletes.

For the second time, Casey has broken Susquehanna's indoor track record, which now stands at 10 feet.

"It's so hard for me to describe pole vaulting," Casey said. "Because it just kind of gets in you, like you just have to do it -- it's like some kind of driving force that you just can't stop."

Kaufmann herself has become a driving force to the young pole vault team here at Susquehanna. She is also striving towards her own goals.

Head track coach Marty Owens said: "She is very driven in her pursuit of raising the school record in the pole vault. So far, so good. We have no specific pole vault coach-they all coach each other. Her leadership is very valuable to the team."

When Casey was a freshman on the track team, Susquehanna had no girl pole vaulters, one women's pole vault pole and only one competing male pole vaulter.

Three years later, the program now has five women vaulters, a large variety or poles and three male vaulters.

"It is amazing to me how far we have come in the last couple of years," Kaufmann said.

Aside from pole vaulting, Kaufmann keeps herself busy with a biology major and theater minor.

This month she has five interviews for Veterinary Schools at the University of Pennsylvania, Auburn University, Purdue University, University of Minnesota, and the University of Virginia.

Kaufmann is able to balance athletics and academics because she feels that they balance one another out. She uses track as her break from schoolwork during the day.

"At the end of the season last year, we all agreed that we wished we still had track to go to because it is what we look forward to every day," she said.

The self-described laid-back, dedicated and fun country girl has several favorite track memories, including former coach Jim Taylor getting recognized for his years serving the track program and Owens motivating the team by telling them he wanted them on the stand instead of Moravian this time.

"My favorite track memory right now was probably after MACs last year when the whole girl's track team sat in a circle and shared stories and cried and talked about how great the season was," Kaufmann said.

Watch for Kaufmann competing at the Susquehanna Invitational on Feb. 12.