Jared Nuxoll Article (IL)

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http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2 ... 007927.txt

Just as he pictured it: Nuxoll's record-tying leap tops day of standout efforts

By TROY HAYES - H&R Staff Writer




Herald & Review/Kate Dougherty Eisenhower's Raisa Taylor clears the bar during Tuesday's Area Best meet at Millikin University. Taylor, who will compete at state this weekend, took first after clearing 5 feet, 4 inches.

DECATUR - Before competing, Jared Nuxoll will stroll over by the pole vault pit and gaze at the bar perched 10 feet or so in the air.

He sets that height in his mind so when he gets to his event, the high jump, the bar - even when it's set at 6-6, 6-8 or 6-9 - doesn't seem nearly as imposing.

``It's just a mental thing,'' Nuxoll said after tying the meet record at the Decatur Herald & Review Area Best track & field meet on Tuesday. ``If there are goal posts behind the mat, I'll just block out the (high jump) bar and focus on the goal post crossbar. It doesn't seem so high then.''It obviously worked on Tuesday.

After clearing 6-8 on his first attempt, and with no one left to compete against, Nuxoll, who was named the Class AA boys athlete of the meet, asked for the bar to be raised to 6-10, a height he'd never cleared before.

His approach was good, the takeoff perfect. As he arched over the fiberglass rod, he touched it just enough that as he hit the mat and rolled over, the bar continued to dance precariously on the standards.

``I didn't even know it was moving,'' Nuxoll said. ``I just knew it was still up there when I looked. And that I was really, really happy.''

Nuxoll covered his face as friends and family cheered the new personal best, and the first to congratulate him on tying the meet record was Taylorville's Lance Hartley, who has cleared 7-0 this year but failed to make 6-4 on Tuesday.


Cowden-Herrick's Sadie Barnes broke out another new pole and tied her meet record set last year by vaulting 10-feet. She's gone 10-3 this year and hopes the longer pole will help her get 10-6 at this weekend's state meet. But she does have her trepidations.

``It's scary being this close to state and trying to figure out a new pole,'' Barnes said. ``I just hopes it turns out for the best.''