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http://www.bransondailynews.com/story.php?storyID=891

Pole vault popular, thanks to state champ


Branson junior Tara Diebold has collected a gold medal in the pole vault at every meet she’s competed in this season, including an effort of 12-2 at the Ozark Relays earlier this week

BDN photo by Pat Dailey

By Pat Dailey
BDN Sports Editor

A good portion of the crowd in attendance at the beginning of the Ozark Relays earlier this week endured four hours of sprints, handoffs, jumps, vaults and heaves to see the end, as well.

The appeal to witness the culmination of the meet wasn’t the girls or boys 1,600 relay, per usual.

Rather, the pole vault, or more specifically Tara Diebold competing in the pole vault, kept fans in the seats or prompted them to walk to the other side of the track and gather around her.

At Branson’s meets this spring, Diebold has sometimes looked around at the throng around her and numerous cameras pointed in her direction and smiled in amazement, taking pride in how rapidly the pole vault has risen in popularity.

“You see all the other kids over here,â€Â

http://www.bransondailynews.com/story.php?storyID=1065

Diebold has 13-0 in her sights


Tara Diebold would like to clear 13-0 in the pole vault at Saturday’s Class 3 District 6 Meet BDN photo by Pat Dailey

By Pat Dailey
BDN Sports Editor

If Tara Diebold unveils her pink pole at Saturday’s Class 3 District 6 Track Meet, it won’t be because she’s making a fashion statement.

The Branson junior anticipates sticking with her purple pole unless she is trying to break her own school record of 12-10, which she set at last week’s Central Ozark Conference Meet.

Diebold doesn’t necessarily favor purple over pink. She’s simply become accustomed to using the purple pole over the past year and has admittedly grown attached to it.

But the purple pole is only 13-0, while the pink pole is 13-6.

“If I get to 12-10 again on Saturday, I know I can get 12-10 with the purple pole,â€Â

http://www.bransondailynews.com/story.php?storyID=1538

Diebold headed to National Junior Olympics

By Pat Dailey
BDN Sports Editor

Tara Diebold actually bettered her personal record in the pole vault of 12 feet, 10 inches during a recent practice when she cleared 13-0.

“But doing it in practice doesn’t count,â€Â

http://www.bransondailynews.com/story.php?storyID=1603

Diebold runner-up at USATF National Junior Olympics

By Pat Dailey
BDN Sports Editor

Tara Diebold recalls her experience at the United States Track and Field (USATF) Junior Olympic Champion-ships last weekend as being, “nerve-wracking,â€Â

http://www.bransondailynews.com/story.php?storyID=1831

Diebold receives honor

By Pat Dailey
BDN Sports Editor
pdailey@bransondailynews.com

Tara Diebold recently received an honor she didn’t even know existed beforehand.

The Southwest Missouri Track and Field Coaches Association named her its ‘Athlete of the Year’ for last spring’s track season.

Diebold is the first Branson trackster to be so honored in the award’s 20-year history.

“Maybe that’s why I had never heard of it,â€Â

http://www.bransondailynews.com/story.php?storyID=3961

Reflecting on state titles


Branson’s Tara Diebold, left and Erin Huddlestonhave been all smiles during the week while basking from the glow of their state championship weekend at the Class 3 State Track Meet. Diebold won gold in the pole vault and was fourth in the long jump, while Huddleston was first in the 3,200 and second in the 1,600.





BDN photo
by Pat Dailey

By Pat Dailey
BDN Sports Editor
pdailey@bransondailynews.com

Tara Diebold is as proud, if not more so, of surviving the knee surgery she endured earlier this week than three-peating as Class 3’s state pole vault champion last weekend.

Only a few days after setting an all-classes state record in the pole vault (12-5) and winning by more than a foot, the Branson senior went under the knife to repair the torn meniscus in her right knee that hindered, but obviously didn’t derail, her three-peat pursuit.

To say Diebold is relieved to have the surgery behind her would be an understatement.

“The surgery went fine,â€Â