Nico Weiler returns to California

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.mercextra.com/blogs/hssports ... los-gatos/

State champ Weiler returns to Los Gatos

By Dave Kiefer
Monday, September 10th, 2007 at 5:44 pm in Prep sports, track and field.

Nico Weiler, the German pole vaulter who set Central Coast Section and state meet records last spring, has returned to Los Gatos for his senior year.

There was some question on whether that would be possible. Weiler attended Los Gatos as an exchange student last year, but a student can only do so for one year.

Instead, Weiler is back at Los Gatos on a student visa, and will be able to defend his state championship as well as attempt to improve upon his meet record of 17-2. His best is 17-6 1/2, which he set in winning the CCS final in Gilroy.

The decision was a long-term and not especially easy one for Weiler. The student visa is for five years. So, basically, he has chosen to leave home permanently. He will finish high school here and then go to an American university.

Upon returning home after his junior year, Weiler won the World Youth championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on July 15 with a jump of 17-3.

The Weiler family is very close and their village of Lieshaumnis is in a green and picturesque countryside. The choice must have been difficult indeed. But in Germany, school and athletics are not as compatible as they are here.

If he stayed in Germany, Weiler would essentially have to choose between being an athlete or going to school. But in the United States, he can have the best of both worlds, and Weiler ultimately felt the sacrifice would be worth it.

[vault3rb0y]

If he breaks a national record, does it count now? Or do you have to be a US citizen? Would it count toward the German records?

[rainbowgirl28]

If he breaks a national record, does it count now? Or do you have to be a US citizen? Would it count toward the German records?

It would count for US high school records. I don't know how the German records work, but I would imagine that it would count for age group records there.

[achtungpv]

The US high school javelin record is held by a Finnish exchange student.

[vault3rb0y]

Did Nico jump indoors last year? If so that record is definitely in danger.