Samantha Weaver Article

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.recordnet.com/daily/sports/a ... 05-s-2.php

Weaver is a perfect 12 pole vaulter
By Michael Sudhalter
Record Staff Writer
Published Thursday, May 12, 2005


STOCKTON -- No one wanted to talk about Samantha Weaver's experience at last season's San Joaquin Athletic Association league track and field meet, but the Lodi senior pulled a 180-degree change, setting a pole vault meet record Wednesday at the SJAA meet at Lincoln High School.

"Last year, Samantha no-heighted at this meet," Flames track and field coach Greg Wright said. "It's something we weren't talking about, but it was in the back of our minds."

Wright said college coaches often award scholarships based on performances from an athlete's junior season, but Weaver was offered scholarships by UC Davis, Long Beach State, Sacramento State and Hawaii despite not advancing past the league meet. She chose Hawaii over the the three in-state schools.

"We were really worried it would be a $100,000 mistake last year," Wright said.

On Wednesday, Weaver cleared 12 feet for only the second time in her career. She broke a meet record of 11-0 set two years ago by Jill Schlenker, a Delta sophomore who recently accepted a scholarship to Sacramento State.

Weaver achieved a mark of 12-0 for the first time last Tuesday in a Lodi-Tokay meet on a rainy, blustery day on which the senior vaulter was under the weather.

According to Wright, those factors gave Weaver an advantage.

"Because she's a competitor when the conditions aren't perfect, she gets gritty and gets her game face on," Wright said. "She'll be a good NCAA athlete because she can score in (different) weather conditions. (For many athletes), if its not perfect, they freak out."

Weaver, who set a personal record of 11-0 as a junior and was clearing 11-9 earlier this season, was pleased to finally get the magic number of 12 behind her.

Her coach was understandably relieved too.

"She (vaulted) 11-9 consistently -- 12-0 was just a mental barrier," Wright said. "We play little games like I wouldn't cut my hair until she cleared 12-feet."

On Wednesday, Weaver proved she can achieve her goals in favorable conditions too.

"She's a solid competitor, she just steps up when the conditions are bad," Wright said.

Wright convinced Weaver to join the track and field team after she spent her freshman year as a diver. She came out for the sport during the last week of her freshman season and jumped an 8-0. As a sophomore, she set a person best of 10-9.

With her spot secured at the Sac-Joaquin Section Meet on May 18-20 at UC Davis, Weaver is talking about clearing 12-6. She is one of 14 female pole vaulters in the state who have cleared 12-0, and the No. 2 vaulter in the section behind Cordova's Bryson Stately.

Wright said this has been the best season for girls vaulters since the CIF began holding the event 10 seasons ago; he noted that strategy and technique changes as the marks get higher.

Wright is confident that Hawaii, under coach Spencer Chang, will allow Weaver the best opportunity to advance her career beyond the collegiate level.

"I'm really excited about the Spencer Chang thing -- this guy can figure out the little things, the subtle changes," Wright said. "If she wants to go to the Olympic trials, Spencer Chang at the University of Hawaii is the right guy."

[vaultmd]

Congrats to Samantha, and thanks again for being one of our great crossbar putter-uppers at Modesto!!

[bvpv07]

Go Sam!!!
Yay, that is awesome that you finally got 12'! Way to go. This year you won't have to sit with me in the stands at state

[theflyingkorean]

YAY SAM!