Megan Moore Article (IL)

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http://www.register-mail.com/stories/05 ... .GID.shtml

Pole vault a 'scary' adventure

Knoxville's Moore: 'You don't always know where you're going to end up'


Thursday, May 12, 2005

By JUSTIN CONN
The Register-Mail

Knoxville High School senior Megan Moore gripped a flourescent pink stick over twice her height, then took off running.
As she approached her destination, Moore's mind raced.

"I'm thinking, 'I need to get vertical, I need to turn over and get over the bar,' " Moore said. "I just try to stay focused on what I need to do."

After clearing 6-6, 7-0 and tying her career-best in the pole vault at 7-6, Moore was about to try her first of three attempt at 8-0 during Friday's Olympic Conference Meet.

It didn't go well. Moore crashed into the crossbar, and she just caught enough of the cushioned mat to keep her from a hard landing onto the pit.

Every attempt in the pole vault has an air of danger. Though serious injury - even death - is rare, it's not unheard of.

"You don't always know where you're going to end up, and I fear that real bad," Moore said. "I don'tusually come that close to landing in the pit, and that definitely scared me."

Still, neither Moore - nor any of the other Olympic Conference competitors last Friday - wore protective helmets.

"I guess fashion is more important than safety," said Moore, laughing.

It was one year ago when Moore first decided she'd like to try the pole vault. Competing at the Sherrard Sectional, Moore became interested while watching a Kewanee pole vaulter.

"I told my coach, 'Hey, that looks like fun. I think I want to try that,' " Moore said. "He said, 'I think you can do it.' "

After missing her first attempt at 8-0, Moore stretched, then paced in circles. She also watched Rockridge's Holly Begyn and Sherrard's Erin Degelman successfully clear the height.

Moore's second attempt began much like the first one. Her takeoff and plant were solid, then her mind went blank.

"As soon as I'm up there, the only thing I'm thinking is 'Uh-oh,' " Moore said. "It's all kind of a blur - it happens so fast."

Moore appeared to have the height at first. She shouted, "get over, get over," but her leg grazed the crossbar and it came down. Moore landed on the pad, but akwardly - on her feet with her back arched.

"I was so close," Moore said. "If I would have turned over to the other side of the pole, I would have had it. It was a silly mistake."

Moore slammed her poll to the ground and walked off staring into space. After calming down, she approached Degelman - the eventual conference champ with a vault of 10-9.

"She's really nice and always willing to help," Moore said. "I told her I was getting scared when I needed to turn over. She just told me when I get parallel with the bar, turn over."

Moore said she tries not to get frustrated while watching Degelman.

"She's awesome," Moore said. "It's intimidating to see her do it so easily, but I learn a lot from watching her."

Moore said Degelman and Begyn have one major advantage over her - facilities. Sherrard and Rockridge have pole vault pits, Knoxville doesn't.

"They can go and vault everyday," Moore said. "I haven't actually practiced pole vaulting in three weeks. I'm just going in and winging it at the meets.

I have to give myself credit for that."

Moore's final attempt was doomed from the beginning. Her approach was slow, and she didn't get much height.

Moore didn't even try to turn over and clear the bar. Afterward, she walked away with her head down and quietly packed up her equipment.

"That was frustrating because I'd gotten so close on the one before," Moore said. "I think I decelerated on that one. I've been having trouble with my heels,

and I just didn't have anything left."