Kjersti Gedde and Justin George (WA) Rise to the Occasion

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http://www.theolympian.com/143/story/71555.html

Rising to the occasion

Pole vaulters expect to continue success at state track meets
Gail Wood
The Olympian

They're track's equivalent to bungee jumpers, hang gliders and rock climbers.

They're pole vaulters, thrill seekers in spikes.

Yelm's Justin George and Olympia's Kjersti Gedde both have that risk-taking attitude, a bent toward adventure. Gedde rock climbs. George snowboards.

Their no-fear approach and an athletic knack to hurl themselves like cannon balls over a bar puts them among the state's top returning pole vaulters.

"Kjersti is fearless," Olympia coach Cris Violette said.

Gedde, in just her second year of pole vaulting, won the state 4A title last year as just a sophomore, clearing 11 feet, 6 inches at the state meet. It was two feet higher than her personal best coming into the season.

George improved his personal best by nine inches at the boys state meet, clearing 14-9 to place third in 3A, also as a sophomore.

"He's really a gifted athlete," Yelm coach Mike Strong said. "And he's fearless. Not foolish, but fearless. The better pole vaulters are high risk takers."

But coming into high school, George had his mind set on playing baseball, the sport he had played since he was in grade school. After a couple of days of baseball practice as a freshman, George put down his baseball glove and turned out for track, following the advice of Strong and his twin brother, Jason.

Jason, who is not an identical twin, didn't end up having the success of his brother pole vaulting. Justin George cleared 13-3 as a freshman, making it to state but not placing.

"It came pretty naturally," Justin George said.

Both George and Gedde have their biggest days at the biggest meets.

"Kjersti is a gamer," Violette said. "The bigger the meet the more she excels. She always rises to the occasion."

George and Gedde had personal bests at last year's state meet.

"Justin is a monstrous competitor," Strong said. "He rises to a challenge."

Gedde's approach to pole vaulting has been identical to how she's approached other challenges - all out.

"She gets excited about whatever she does," said Pete Gedde, Kjersti's father.

"Whatever she does she gives it her best effort."

George lifted weights year around and vaulted indoors for the two months leading up to the season on a four-step approach. He's already clearing 15 feet and with two new poles on order has his sights on break 16 feet. Strong said that's exceptional for someone who is only 5-foot-6.

"He's so coordinated," Strong said. "His spacial awareness is very good. He's disciplined for training. He works hard in the weight room."

With a state championship on her resume, Gedde comes into the season as a favorite, not the underdog role she carried all last year. To prepare for the season, Gedde turned out for gymnastics for the first time. She also has a rock-climbing wall on the side of her house she uses for conditioning.

"I want to go 12-plus feet this year," said Gedde, whose mother, Jana, ran track at Pacific Lutheran University. "I told my coach that the sky is the limit. There's definitely pressure, but I'm just going to train hard and whatever happens happens. I'm just going to give it my all."

Gedde and George agree that there's a fear factor to pole vaulting. But it can't become a distraction.

"When you're up there, it's dangerous but it's actually safe," Gedde said. "If you have any fear, you won't be able to pole vault. You may end up getting hurt."

George said, "My biggest fear is missing a plant or having a pole snap. But you can't be thinking about that. You get used to going upside down."