Vaulter heads to state meet

By Samuel G. Mustari
smustari@greeleytribune.com
May 7, 2008

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FORT COLLINS — Chelsea O’Connor has successfully made the transition from a straight pull to a rod bender.

The difference has been about one foot, and a spot in the Class 4A Girls State Track and Field Championships next weekend.

Tuesday afternoon, the Windsor sophomore pole vaulter cleared 9 feet to finish second in the Region 2 meet at French Field.

“I’m bending the pole and I’m swinging now,” said O’Connor, whose 9-foot effort tied her own school record. “To start the season, I was just using a straight pull. What a difference.”

Windsor assistant coach Pete Thrasher, who coaches the vaulters, explained that O’Connor’s progress has been smooth.

“She’s very strong mentally, so I expected her to progress,” Thrasher said. “She controls the pole now. You can see it bend. Before, she was just racing up the runway, and putting the pole into the ground.”

O’Connor was second in Tuesday’s final, just six inches short of winner Lauren Hoal, of Sterling.

“She cleared nine feet by quite a few inches today, and I sort of expected her to go higher,” Thrashing said. “She certainly can.”

O’Connor explained that her practice sessions have played huge in her improvement, and she’s anxiously awaiting the state meet.

“I think I can go 9-6, maybe 9-8,” she said. “Bring it on.”

IN THE WIND: Windsor was led by Katie Olson, who won the shot put at 37-0. Triple jumper Rachel Weakland was third (34-11.5) in the finals of the triple jump to qualify for state, and pole vaulter Chelsea O’Connor was second in the pole vault (9-0), also qualifying for state.

Wizards Weakland, Emily Elliott, Katie Hazel and Mallory Duran set a school record in the 800 relay (1:46.80).

Source: Samuel G. Mustari

Class 4A Region 2 Track & Field Championships
Tuesday’s Finals

Girls Division
1600-meter run: Ashlee Smalley, Greeley West, 5:25.77; Janelle Martinez, Greeley Central, 5:29.60; Alicia Randall, Thompson Valley, 5:30.45. 3200 relay: Thompson Valley, 9:45.19; Fossil Ridge, 9:48.28; Greeley West (Michaela Leach, Sarah Swenson, Nicole Larson, Kendra Gerk), 9:48.67. High Jump: Amy Medina, Mountain View, 5-4; Justine Boddy, Thompson Valley, 5-2; Rachel Weakland, Windsor, 5-0. Pole Valut: Lauren Hoal, Sterling, 9-6; Chelsea O’Connor, Windsor, 9-0; Sara Van Horn, Thompson Valley, 7-6. Triple Jump: Amy Medina, Mountain View, 36-9; Oliva Downing, Fossil Ridge, 36-2; Weakland, Windsor, 34-11.5. Shot Put: Katie Olson, W, 37-0; Tanya Bezanson, Berthoud, 34-10.50; Anna Avila, Mountain View, 33-10.50.

Boys Division
1660-meter run: Ray Lewis, Fort Morgan, 4:31.41; Sean Turner, Fort Morgan, 4:32.06; Kody Leach, Greeley West, 4:32.82. 3200: Thompson Valley, 8:12.74; Fossil Ridge, 8:20.21; Sterling, 8:21.11. Pole Vault: Steven Rechendifer, Sterling, 13-0; Connor Roggy, Greeley West, 12-6; Nathan Neibauer, Greeley Central, 11-6. Long Jump: Colby Starkebaum, Sterling, 21-8.50; Bryce Munoz, Berthoud, 21-00; Adrian Skipwith, Greeley Central, 20-9. Discus: A.J. Frieler, Greeley West, 156-10; Reece James, Fort Morgan, 153-0; Joe Hochanadel, Fort Morgan, 152-07.