Rockford, IL girls article

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http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art ... 001/SPORTS

Chew, Harvey eye pole vault prize

By REED SCHRECK, Rockford Register Star
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CHARLESTON -- Rockford Christian Life senior pole vaulter Faith Chew didn't make it to state last year, yet wants to win state and set the state record today.


Oregon senior Ashley Harvey won state last year, and just wants to post her best pole vault of the season today.


Such are the viewpoints of two of the top contenders in the finals of the IHSA Class A girls state track meet.



Chew had to deal with the disappointment of bombing at last year's sectional after having gone 9 feet at conference the previous week. This year, she was one of three girls to clear a sectional-best 10-6.


"I balled my eyes out last year," Chew said. "This year, I have high hopes. My goal since my freshman year has been to win state and break the state record (11-0)."


To do so, she'll have to do better than she did in Friday's preliminaries at Eastern Illinois University's O'Brien Stadium. She was one of 10 competitors to go 9-6 -- but she needed a third attempt. Thirteen girls gained finals, three by going 9-3. Burlington Central sophomore Lauren Colby cleared 9-6.


Chew also failed in her first try at 8-6.


"It was a crummy jump. I was nervous. I was trying to get out too fast," she said of her earliest miss. "I needed to calm down, slow down.


"I just have to forget about (prelims). Hopefully, (today) will be a nice day. It will be a fresh start. We all have our bad days, and I'm fortunate it wasn't bad enough not to make it."


Chew said she's gone 11-6 in practice and missed at 11-9 with her hips over the bar.


Harvey won at 10-3 last year, and went a season-best 10-0 at sectionals. She only resumed workouts less than a month ago after suffering a right knee injury.


"Everyone knows you want to go in and win it," she said. "Last year I was on a different pole, and it makes all the difference. I'm on my 'baby pole' now because I've only been practicing 3 weeks.


"It's tough to think this is my last year," added the Hawks senior, who will pursue track at Loras College.