http://www.app.com/app/story/0,21625,964735,00.html
Sarafian smashes N.J. mark
Published in the Asbury Park Press 5/16/04
By SCOTT CLAYTON
CORRESPONDENT
BRICK -- Adam Sarafian is a man of his word. After a disappointing second-place finish at the Penn Relays three weeks ago, the Ocean Township High School senior made it known that the state record in the pole vault would be his. At yesterday's Shore Conference Championships, under sunny skies with a slight tailwind, Sarafian topped out at 17 feet, 4 1/2 inches, shattering the 24-year-old mark by 10 1/2 inches.
On March 27, Sarafian established a Shore-area record with a jump of 16-4 3/4 to win the Florida Relays at the University of Florida. Since that meet, the University of Georgia-bound converted gymnast had not cleared 16 feet, much less approached the 16-6 set by Bridgewater-Raritan East's Bill Lange in 1980.
Yesterday, Sarafian entered the competition at 15-0, clearing that height, 15-6, 16-0, 16-7 1/4 and 17- 1/2 on his first attempts. Sarafian then missed his first two attempts at 17-4 1/2 before clearing on his third try. Three attempts at 17-9 1/2 were unsuccessful, but did not dull Sarafian's smile.
The winning height currently makes Sarafian the top-ranked scholastic pole vaulter in the United States this year. Ty Barrington, of Southlake Carroll High in Texas, held the previous best at 16-10. The national scholastic record of 18-2 1/4 was set by Eric Eshbach of Orangefield, Texas, in 1999.
"I thought I had 17 feet in me, but this was a huge surprise," Sarafian said. "Everything's been starting to come together, my steps, my swing up and my extension.
"Those last attempts I was like, 'Wait a minute. 17-9? I'm not supposed to be up here.' "
With meet announcers keeping spectators up to speed on Sarafian's progress, the pole vault runway and surrounding fences drew quite a crowd.
"It was pretty cool having everybody around and cheering," Sarafian said. "People were telling me that I was clearing it by a lot on all the heights. It really gives you confidence to be hitting every height on your first attempts. I'm happy I got the record."
After earning a win in the competition with his clear at 15-6, Sarafian had a choice of the heights he attempted thereafter.
"I like odd numbers," the 5-foot-8, 138-pounder said. "I like the metric numbers a lot better than the standard measurements. My previous best of 16-4 3/4 is exactly five meters."
The winning clear of 17-4 1/2 is just shy of 5.30 meters.
Sarafian was not the only local vaulter to enjoy yesterday's conditions. Toms River North's Maged Fattah and Freehold Township's Paul Diercksen each cleared personal bests of 15 feet, and nearly reached the old meet record of 15-3 1/2 set by Southern's Bill Hartley in 1976.
"I loved it when I saw eight guys over 14 feet. I knew it was a good day to jump," Sarafian said.
"It's making New Jersey look good," Fattah said. "On a day like this, everything feels nice and loose, and it's good for the vault."
Sarafian's vault into state history comes just three years after beginning the sport. In an encounter with Spartans coach Mark DeSomma as a sophomore, DeSomma convinced Sarafian that his gymnastics background could lead to big things in the pole vault.
Since then, Sarafian has traveled almost weekly to the Fiber Benders vault school in Reading, Pa. In April, Sarafian ventured to the University of Arkansas for a pole vault clinic with nationally renowned coach Earl Bell and U.S. Olympian Jeff Hartwig.
"He did not have the passion for gymnastics that he has for this," said Sarafian's mother, Susan. "I can't wait to get home to call Georgia. They said they were going to up the scholarship money if he cleared 17."