Angelica Gilsenan (NY) article

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http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs ... 072/SPORTS


Gilsenan reaches new heights with new strategy
By Christopher Hunt
The Journal News
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(Original publication: January 12, 2007)


Angelica Gilsenan of Pearl River used to look around during the pole vault. She kept her eye on her competition, all the girls that she thought were better than her - more experienced.

She admitted that she'd be so focused on everyone else that it affected her performance. So she did the smart thing. She stopped watching.

"I try not to pay attention to their jumps," she said." I try to just block it out until the end, until I'm the only person left."

Gilsenan said that sometimes she doesn't even know what place she is in during pole vault competitions. That's for her coach to figure out. The sophomore only wants to focus on her next attempt and then the one after that.

Her new strategy has worked. Gilsenan leads Section 1 in the pole vault. She cleared 9 feet, 9 inches at the Rockland Coaches Invitational Friday. Then she finished sixth at the Hispanic Games, clearing 9-6 at the New Balance Armory. Gilsenan said at first she didn't think she cleared the bar at 9-9 Friday.

"I tapped it lightly but I thought I didn't make it," she said. "Then I looked up and it was still on.

"I was surprised. But I was really excited too."

Gilsenan kept saying that she has a long way to go. Her goal is get over 10 feet this season and over 12 feet by graduation. But she's learning each week that it takes more than practice to be successful.

At the Pearl River Holiday Festival, Gilsenan said she didn't take the meet seriously enough. Then she no-heighted.

"After that I learned to treat everything like it's a really big meet," she said. "That really taught me to be more focused."

Gilsenan knows that she has improved a lot in a short period of time and acknowledged that clearing 10 feet is a barrier.

"I think it'll take me a little while to get over 10," she said. "I know I have a lot to work on. But I feel like all of this has been a lot of hard work paying off."