Duffy's dream: vaulting 13 feet (NY)

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.d ... /706140326

Duffy's dream: vaulting 13 feet
W'ville senior hopes to clear 13 feet at Nike Nationals 1 of 1 Stephanie Duffy of Washingtonville, a two-time state pole vault champion, is focusing on clearing 13 feet tomorrow.Times Herald-Record/CHET GORDON By Ken McMillan

Times Herald-Record
June 14, 2007
Stephanie Duffy is very excited about her college future, but she still has one final high school meet left to reach an elusive goal.

The two-time state Federation pole vault champion from Washingtonville will compete tomorrow in the Nike Outdoor Nationals meet in Greensboro, N.C., her last chance to clear 13 feet as a high school-eligible vaulter.

"I would really like 13,'' said Duffy, who owns the Section 9 record at 12 feet, 11 inches. "I have nationals, so I am hoping that is the meet to do it in.''

Duffy won her second state title last Friday in Kingston with a leap of 12-6. She was hoping for better on Sunday at the Golden West Invitational in Sacramento, Calif., but managed only 11-11¾, good for fourth place. She popped off a winning jump of 12 feet at Monday's Empire State Games regional qualifier at West Point.

Then there's that unlucky 13.

"I've gone over it so many times in practice it's ridiculous,'' said Duffy, who once cleared 13-1½ in a club meet. "That's why it gets so frustrating at meets because it's like, 'How can I not make that?' It's building up to something ... there is something in there that's holding it in.''

Hugh Cauthers, her club coach with the Hudson Valley Flying Circus pole vault club, said it's just a matter of time before she clears 13 and keeps moving up.

"Stephanie is one of the most outstanding young ladies I've had a chance to work with,'' Cauthers said. "She has a positive mindset. ... She is very focused and is always going for personal bests.''

Duffy stands just 5-foot-2, so she doesn't have the long lines that may help other vaulters. She makes up for her height disadvantage with a powerful run, utilizing good speed and a firm planting of the pole in the pit. Once in the air, Duffy has "an explosive turn upside-down'' that few vaulters can perform, Cauthers says.

Duffy earned a scholarship to vault for the University of South Florida, a Big East Conference school in Tampa, Fla.

[KJ]

So... did she get 13?

[lonestar]

Nope. At least not at that meet:

Nike Outdoor Nationals - 6/14/2007 to 6/16/2007
Results at www.cfpitiming.com
North Carolina A+T University, Greensboro, NC
Results
13-09 5/23/2006 Katie Veith, Homestead,Ft Wayne,IN
14-01.25 6/10/2007 Tori Anthony, Castilleja, Palo Alto,
Year School Finals
==========================================================================
Shade Weygandt 09 Mansfield, TX 4.03m 13-02.50
3.63 3.78 3.93 4.03 4.13
P O XO XXO XXX
Stephanie Duffy 07 Monroe, NY 3.93m 12-10.75
3.63 3.78 3.93 4.03
O O XO XXX

Nike Outdoor Nationals, where the headwind-minded vaulters will thrive!

[KJ]

Well that is to bad... at least she knew she could do it...but that still doesnt change the fact that she was probably a little upset. Right?