New pole lifts Shawn Myers to the top (MD)

[rainbowgirl28]

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New pole lifts Gator to the top
Perry Hall standout qualifies for nationals

01/31/08
By TOM WORGO
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Perry Hall senior Shawn Myers clears the bar on his way to winning the pole vault with a 13-foot, 6-inch leap at the Baltimore County Indoor Track and Field Championships last week.
High school indoor track

Perry Hall senior pole vaulter Shawn Myers may have found something that could put him over the top -- literally.

A new pole.

After finishing second in the Class 4A-3A state championships during both the indoor and outdoor seasons last year, Myers wanted something to give him a leg up on the competition.

And a new, longer, heavier and more flexible carbon pole is launching his career to new heights, as shown by a personal-best 13-foot, 6-inch leap earlier this month.

The pole, which he borrowed from a coach at a weekly clinic he attends in Landover, enables Myers to generate more speed after the liftoff, thus increasing his altitude.

The improvement has made Myers more focused than in past seasons and raised his expectations for a state title.

"It's my senior year, and I am just trying to be flawless," Myers said.

Myers said 13-6 might be a good enough to win a state championship, after capturing the Baltimore County crown last week at the Fifth Regiment Amory in Baltimore.

He cruised to the title, beating Hereford senior Luke Durkin by 2 feet.

"It (13-6) was really significant because it qualified me for nationals," Myers said about the Nike Indoor Nationals, which will be held at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex in Landover in March.

"I think he kind of maxed out on his old pole," Perry Hall coach Brian Moen said. "It helps him get a little more spring in his vault. It gives him confidence and a mental edge."

For the Perry Hall girls, senior vaulter Katie Riesett came close to taking home a title.

Riesett recorded the same height (7-6) as Hereford junior Rachel Feinour, but the Gator finished second because it took her two attempts to reach that mark. Feinour made it on her first try.

This season has been much different for Riesett, who is the only female pole vaulter on a team that boasted four vaulters last year and five in 2006.

"Some girls didn't come back out, and (2007 state champion) Jess Stadler left to go to Towson (University), Riesett said.

Moen is glad to have Riesett back.

"She has been one of our most consistent vaulters the last couple of years," the coach said.

[vault3rb0y]

Lol i like how the reporter describes the pole as "longer, heavier, and more flexible". Thats not the kind of pole i would want to move up to . I give him/her credit for trying though.

[primetime614]

shawn won counties easily because his competition, collin goodling, who beat him a week earlier 13-0 to 13-0, truley and epic competition, collin won on fouls, i think it went all the way back to 10-6, anyway collin's new pole wasnt in yet, so he had to use a far smaller pole but now, he has this mental block, he knows this pole is too small for him and it hurt him bad.
while Luke Durkin, who got 2nd had yet another bad day, he's looking to put his best vault, or at least a decent on in a meet, then he can compete too.

collin goodling also went 13-6 two weeks later. and durkin 12-0 both know they can clear more, and they've shown they can do it in practice and warmups.

collin will have his new pole shortly, and once again shawn and collin will be fighting for the lead. but for now, shawn is still in the lead, but collin and luke and the rest fo the hereford pole vaulters' own the county and look to take the long staning county PV relay record away from perry hall.