http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.d ... -1/SITEMAPTrack & field: Quiller biding time until Olympics
US championships offer chance to stay in shape
Rory Quiller.
By Ken Mcmillan
Times Herald-Record
Published: 2:00 AM - 06/25/10
There's a fine line that pole vaulter Rory Quiller must walk, or jump, as it were.
He has to jump well in order to stay in shape and improve his chances of retaining a professional contract for the next two years leading up to the Olympics.
On the other hand, 2010 is the down year in track — no Olympics and no World Championships — so there's no need to beat himself up and risk injuring his troublesome hamstring for a third time this year.
Quiller, a James I. O'Neill graduate and son of former Army track coach Jerry Quiller, thrilled a handful of competitors and fans when he made a surprise appearance at last week's Empire State Games track qualifier in Middletown. Three weeks after moving to his parents' new home in Colorado, Quiller made an exhibition appearance, or glorified practice, and easily cleared 17 feet, 4 inches — that's child's play in terms of American elite pole vaulters. He's going to have to do much better than that when he competes Friday at the U.S. championships in Iowa.
"There's a ton of guys who can jump 18-6, 18-8, and I think I am hopefully one of them,'' Quiller said. "USA's is where you need to jump well. If I jump well there, that might open some doors.''
In 2008, Quiller closed out his college career at Binghamton in grand style, placing second at the 2008 U.S. Indoor Championships (clearing 18-41/2) and winning the NCAA Division I title (18-1/2).
Along with becoming an assistant coach at Binghamton, Quiller signed a pro contract with sports manufacturing company Asics, first for six months and then an additional two years. The contract provides for a travel allowance, which Quiller has used for trips to California, New York and Iowa in 2010.
However, two recurring hamstring injuries sidelined Quiller for six weeks in one stretch and four weeks in another. The visit to Middletown last week was the first time he was able to employ his full runway approach.
At the end of May, Quiller left his Binghamton coaching job and moved to Colorado to help take care of his father, who is battling cancer. He's taken an assistant track coaching job with the Colorado School of Mines.
Quiller is working out with former three-time Pan American Games champ Pat Manson in Colorado. He said Manson will give him an honest assessment about whether Quiller should head to Europe to compete this summer. Quiller already postponed one trip to France because the airline was going to charge $989 each way just to transport his poles.
"If I put up a 5.70 (meters, or 18-81/2) I might shoot across the pond to get a couple high quality meets because that would open doors as far as contracts for next year,'' Quiller said.
Quiller has earned a master's degree from Binghamton, but he's put off working on his doctorate until his pole-vaulting career pans out.
"The Olympics is something that everybody wants to do,'' Quiller said. "I am going to give it an honest effort through 2012. I am going to stay in it long enough to get a shot (for the U.S. trials) at Eugene 2012.''