Lindsay Kopenhaver (PA) switches to carrying the pole

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.eveningsun.com/localsports/ci_5626696

New approach should benefit Kopenhaver
By GREG SWATEK
Evening Sun Sports Writer
Article Launched: 04/09/2007 10:13:37 AM EDT

Hanover junior Lindsay Kopenhaver is hoping a change in technique will help her soar to new heights in the pole vault this year.

Kopenhaver, a returning PIAA qualifier in the event, is carrying her pole instead of pushing it during her approach this season.

"That's pretty much what you see all of the Olympic vaulters doing," she said of carrying the pole, which involves holding the pole straight up in the air before planting it.

Vaulters push the pole when they hold it parallel to the ground during the approach.

Kopenhaver found some success with it last year. She was the top seed in the pole vault in the District 3 Class AA Championships with a personal-best height of 10 feet, 3 inches.

She ended up clearing an identical height at districts to finish second to good friend Krystal Baker of Bermudian Springs, whom she has known for years as a fellow gymnast in the Hanover Area Family YMCA's program.

The following week at states, Kopenhaver cleared 9-6 to finish in a five-way tie for 14th place in Class AA.

The experience taught her a lot, but also left her hungry to crack the top eight places and earn a state medal.

"That would be amazing," she said. "That's my main goal for this year."

After consulting with her coaches and seeing other vaulters do it, Kopenhaver decided to make the switch to carrying the pole.

She has already noticed a difference in both practices and meets.

"It has definitely helped a lot," she said. "It really gives you more balance on the approach and more spatial awareness in the air."

Kopenhaver has already cleared 9 feet in a meet this season and is hoping to be around the 11-foot mark by the end of the season.

But the pole vault is just one of the ways she is contributing to Hanover's track team this year.

She is also running both of the hurdle races and throwing the shot put.

It's not often you see an athlete competing in both the pole vault and shot put, an event Kopenhaver doesn't have the prototypical body for.

But as her coach, Tara Bahn, explains, "She is just really strong. Her technique is pretty good and she can fling it out there."

Kopenhaver's personal-best toss in the shot is 27 feet, and she is hoping to surpass that soon.

"I really like the shot," she said. "It's a pretty good stress reliever."

She feels her distances would already be better had a foot injury not sidelined her for part of last season, costing her valuable practice time.

But Kopenhaver is back at full health this season and ready to compete at a high level in all of her events.

"Lindsay is off to a great start," Bahn said. "We are really counting on her in a lot of events. I am sure she will come through."

[master]

The way the article is written makes it almost sound like "carrying" the pole is unusual

- master