http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/st ... ran=196708
Morrison captures pole vault but falls short of his goal
By LARRY RUBAMA , The Virginian-Pilot
© June 12, 2006
RICHMOND - Great Bridge pole vaulter Mike Morrison, competing in his final high school track meet in Virginia, hoped to clear 18 feet, which would have put him among the nation's top all-time high school pole vaulters.
But Morrison - who has a personal-best of 17-6-1/2 - fell short . He easily cleared 16-6 to win the inaugural MileStat.com Elite Track pole vault Sunday at Sports Backers Stadium, but missed three attempts at 17-2.
"It was perfect conditions all day. I couldn't ask for better," said Morrison, who is headed to the University of Florida in the fall. "I just couldn't get my steps down. They were all off. I also think I rushed it when I should have slowed down."
Morrison's mindset changed after he cleared 17-6-1/2 two weeks ago at the Eastern Region meet. That's the best ever by a Virginia high school pole vaulter and is the nation's top mark this spring. It broke former Olympian and Great Bridge vaulter Lawrence Johnson's school record.
"I just want to improve each time," Morrison said. "I expect to go 17 feet every time out."
Next week, Morrison will compete at the Nike Outdoor Nationals meet in Greensboro . That will be followed by the Junior Nationals meet in Indianapolis. He'll also compete in Puerto Rico and China this summer.
Before the summer's over, Morrison hopes to get the national record of 18-3 by Oregon's Tommy Skipper in 2003.
