Jesse Howe article (WY)

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http://www.wyomingnews.com/news/more.asp?StoryID=107412

Vaulter sets top target
East sophomore Jesse Howe cleared 11 feet at a weekend invite and now believes she can set a new state mark

By Jeremiah Johnke
spt3@wyomingnews.com
Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle

CHEYENNE - Jesse Howe sightings have been rare at Cheyenne East track practices this year.

The sophomore has been missing workouts to spend 12 hours per week training for a regional gymnastics meet in Wichita, Kan., later this month.

But don't think for a second the limited amount of practice Howe has gotten in the pole vault pit has limited her performance in the event.

She cleared 11 feet at the Foot of the Rockies Invitational in Fort Collins, Colo., on Saturday to set a new meet standard.

For that performance, Howe has been selected as this week's Prep Athlete of the Week by the WTE sports staff.

Howe said the skills she uses in gymnastics have served her well in pole vault.

"The body awareness I've gained from gymnastics make pole vaulting a little easier," she said. "If my coach tells me to get upside down more, I know what he's talking about, and it's a little easier for me to do.

"Also, the upper-body strength that I've gotten from doing gymnastics all these years has helped. It takes a lot of upper-body strength to pole vault."

Howe is the latest in a long line of high-achieving Lady Thunderbird pole vaulters. She tied teammate Lindsey Hall for second last spring at state by clearing 10 feet. She posted the same height to win the first sanctioned indoor title last month.

For the past six years East pole vaulters have combined for two state titles and five second places.

The T-Birds went without a state placer in the first three years of girls competition before Stephanie Anderson took fifth in 1999. She followed that by clearing 10 feet, 6 inches to win the 2000 state title.

Nicole Yurek - who is now competing for Idaho State University - experienced the most success, winning the title in 2004 and taking seconds in 2001 and 2002. She was also fourth in 2003.

Yurek holds East's school record at 11-8. Cody's Anya Wechsler set the statewide standard at last year's meet with a winning vault of 11-7.

State records only can be set at the state meet, but Howe has her sights set at both marks.

"I got off to a good start this weekend, considering I only had a week of practice in," she said.

Her Saturday mark is her career best, but Howe said her top vaults are in front of her.

"My goal last year was to clear 11, but I hurt my foot early last season, and it took me a while to get my speed back," she said. "I think 11-8 is definitely attainable.

"I was close to clearing 11-6 this weekend, but my technique was a little off. I haven't had a lot of consistency in practice, but getting that down and getting on a longer pole will help."

Coach Tim Woodard said Howe's mark leads the state and makes her a serious contender for the state title.

"She's got that potential," he said. "The thing about pole vault is that nothing is guaranteed. You can have a good pole vaulter, but it's hard to say you can almost guarantee a win like you can in some other events.

"There was a girl this weekend who hit the bar, and it was jumping all over the place but it stayed on. Then there were other girls who appeared to not even touch the bar, but it fell off.

"Jesse's got a great chance, but she's also going to need a bit of luck."