Jared Jodon (PA) 16-0

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news ... 8632&rfi=6

Laurel Highlands (5-1, 5-1) received strong efforts from Jeff Palya, Jack Macioce and Jared Jodon, among others. Jodon topped out at 15-6 in the pole vault after just missing clearing 16 feet.

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news ... 8632&rfi=6

LH's Jodon golden in pole vault
By: Jim Downey, Herald-Standard
05/19/2006

Laurel Highlands' Jared Jodon was the final athlete on the field Thursday at Baldwin High School, and the senior did not disappoint with a gold-medal winning performance in the pole vault at the WPIAL Class AAA Individual Track & Field Championships.
The top four finishers plus those who placed fifth through eighth and met the state-qualifying standard also advanced to the PIAA Championships on Friday-Saturday, May 26-27 at Shippensburg University.
While Jodon reached new heights, Connellsville's Rodney Richter fell just short in his bid for a state berth. Richter finished sixth in the discus, but missed the state-qualifying mark by a mere two inches.
Mike Pohlot had the Belle Vernon contingent excited by finishing seventh in the 1,600 to round out the medal-winning performances of local athletes.
Jodon easily cleared his opening height of 14 feet, six inches. He repeated the process three more times at 15 feet, 15-6 and 16 feet. The senior had barely cleared the bar on his first attempt when he let out a holler of excitement.
Jodon gave 16-5 three chances with the first vault his best. He caught the bar with his chin on the way down.
His confidence was bolstered with his selection to move to a 15-foot, 190-pound pole earlier in the week.
That might not be the orthodox thing to do, but the move paid big dividends.
"Confidence and pole selection were huge. I went to a 15-foot, 190-pound pole at the beginning of the week. Normally, that's not the best thing to do on such a short time, but it was now or never. I decided to buckle down and go with it," said Jodon.
Jodon didn't have to vault in the rain, but the temperature dropped and the winds picked up as the sun went down.
"I got the adrenaline going and didn't feel a thing," said Jodon.
Pole vaulters generally like to play to a crowd, and Jodon was no different as he made his final attempts with a couple vaulters left and a gathering crowd.
"It always helps to push and get me higher," said Jodon of the competition. "It was a blast. I fueled the flames."
Jodon set a goal after finishing second last year and is well on his way to meeting it.
"To go from silver to this, that's what I set as my goal last year to do."
Teammate Nate Hensh set a freshman record of 13 feet, but fell short of the medal podium in ninth place.

[vault3rb0y]

geez, where did all the crazy 16's come from in Pennsylvania?? These neighboors of NY are killing us, the best jump so far in NY is 15'5 if im not mistaken. Great job guys!

[WarriorsNvrQuit]

if im not mistaken...jordan broke the PA state record and set it at 16'2''

[vault3rb0y]

Is it really bad to move up a pole if you have a week to work on it?? i hope not, because im using a 14'6 160 i only worked with since sunday and i have a meet thursday i plan on using it in.

[WarriorsNvrQuit]

ha your lucky to have a week
at our district meet my coach went through other teams polebags and just picked poles out and told me to vault on them....took me to 12' and ive NEVER seen the poles in my LIFE before... i had been using a 13' 145 for almost 2 weeks and then at the meet i vaulted on a 13' 150 and a 13'6'' 150... not to big of a change but ya know