Don Smith Article (NJ)
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 6:34 pm
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/s ... 33005d.htm
Eastern's Smith looking to set the bar in pole vault
Tuesday, March 30, 2005
By LIAN SKAF
Courier-Post Staff
In some respects the pole vault is an event unto itself in the sport of track and field.
The mechanics are unique, the mentality is unique, and so is the camaraderie.
Most track events are like any sport. The goal is to win, and while there is mutual respect for the runner on the block next to you, he is essentially the enemy.
Any coach will tell you, a good sprinter or even distance runner has to run his own race and not get worried about the competition to succeed. But there is no love lost between opponents who beat each other.
Pole vaulting is a little different.
Embracing what seems to be challenges and goals only a vaulter can understand, high school pole vaulters cheer each other on and root for the season's leader once he emerges.
"Vaulting, as a sport, is kind of like a brotherhood," said Don Smith, a senior pole vaulter at Eastern High School. "You give pointers and everyone wants people to do well. When it's down to one person, everyone wants him to go as high as he can."
This year, Smith is a person who could have his peers cheering him on to go higher and higher.
Last spring, Smith placed fourth in the Group 4 state meet with a vault of 13-6. This winter, Smith pushed that up to 14-0 to place third in the indoor Meet of Champions (MOC).
Now Smith is looking to set the bar for South Jersey vaulting and be the area's leader when it comes time for Penn Relays and the state meets.
Added motivation for Smith is to follow in the footsteps of Michael Hulme, a 2003 graduate of Eastern who won the 2002 MOC.
Continuing the brotherhood of vaulting, Hulme was on hand to help Smith reach new heights at this winter's MOC.
"Don actually credited the 14- foot jump to Mike Hulme," Eastern coach John Shea said. "He came up from school to give him support. Don said that without his tips at the meet, he didn't think he could have done it."
Smith has always been interested in vaulting, training at the popular HIP Athletics facility with other area vaulters, but it was two years ago that the senior made the decision to give up wrestling and use the winter season to concentrate on the pole vault.
Ironically, Smith's experience with weight control from wrestling helped when his coach asked him to drop 20 pounds before the start of the season.
"He knew what he had to do," Shea said. "He was used to losing weight from wrestling. I ran his butt off and he knocked off 20 pounds just like that."
Along with monitoring his calorie intake, the running seemed to help Smith take off the weight. But the extra running helped Smith in more ways than one.
Because his added speed has helped him gain velocity on the runway, Smith plans to run some track events at duals this season.
"Staying fast is really important," Smith said. "Vaulting is a sport of speed and mechanics. The mechanics are important, but if you can't get down the runway, you can't get up in the air."
It will be tough to match Hulme's 15-0 victory at the MOC two years ago. But with Smith's determination it could happen.
And knowing the vaulter mentality, Hulme might just be on hand to see him do it.
Eastern's Smith looking to set the bar in pole vault
Tuesday, March 30, 2005
By LIAN SKAF
Courier-Post Staff
In some respects the pole vault is an event unto itself in the sport of track and field.
The mechanics are unique, the mentality is unique, and so is the camaraderie.
Most track events are like any sport. The goal is to win, and while there is mutual respect for the runner on the block next to you, he is essentially the enemy.
Any coach will tell you, a good sprinter or even distance runner has to run his own race and not get worried about the competition to succeed. But there is no love lost between opponents who beat each other.
Pole vaulting is a little different.
Embracing what seems to be challenges and goals only a vaulter can understand, high school pole vaulters cheer each other on and root for the season's leader once he emerges.
"Vaulting, as a sport, is kind of like a brotherhood," said Don Smith, a senior pole vaulter at Eastern High School. "You give pointers and everyone wants people to do well. When it's down to one person, everyone wants him to go as high as he can."
This year, Smith is a person who could have his peers cheering him on to go higher and higher.
Last spring, Smith placed fourth in the Group 4 state meet with a vault of 13-6. This winter, Smith pushed that up to 14-0 to place third in the indoor Meet of Champions (MOC).
Now Smith is looking to set the bar for South Jersey vaulting and be the area's leader when it comes time for Penn Relays and the state meets.
Added motivation for Smith is to follow in the footsteps of Michael Hulme, a 2003 graduate of Eastern who won the 2002 MOC.
Continuing the brotherhood of vaulting, Hulme was on hand to help Smith reach new heights at this winter's MOC.
"Don actually credited the 14- foot jump to Mike Hulme," Eastern coach John Shea said. "He came up from school to give him support. Don said that without his tips at the meet, he didn't think he could have done it."
Smith has always been interested in vaulting, training at the popular HIP Athletics facility with other area vaulters, but it was two years ago that the senior made the decision to give up wrestling and use the winter season to concentrate on the pole vault.
Ironically, Smith's experience with weight control from wrestling helped when his coach asked him to drop 20 pounds before the start of the season.
"He knew what he had to do," Shea said. "He was used to losing weight from wrestling. I ran his butt off and he knocked off 20 pounds just like that."
Along with monitoring his calorie intake, the running seemed to help Smith take off the weight. But the extra running helped Smith in more ways than one.
Because his added speed has helped him gain velocity on the runway, Smith plans to run some track events at duals this season.
"Staying fast is really important," Smith said. "Vaulting is a sport of speed and mechanics. The mechanics are important, but if you can't get down the runway, you can't get up in the air."
It will be tough to match Hulme's 15-0 victory at the MOC two years ago. But with Smith's determination it could happen.
And knowing the vaulter mentality, Hulme might just be on hand to see him do it.
, good luck this year man