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[13-0, 13-3.]

Alicia Rue of Robbinsdale Armstrong PR'd twice on Saturday 4/8 at the Falcon Relays indoors at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse. Alicia's previous all time PR was 12-9. Her progression was 11-6, 12-0, 12-6, 13-0, 13-3.  This ranks her third in the nation indoors for high school girls!  Great job Alicia!

Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field

Starting September 4, 2006

Hourly pay rate available

Jarred Sampson
Head Track & Field Coach
Concordia University - St. Paul
275 N Syndicate St
St. Paul, MN  55104
Office 651.641.8784
Fax 651.641.8787
sampson@csp.edu

[Armstrong vaulters hope to remain class of the sport]

This is in today's Star Tribune West Metro section.

http://www.startribune.com/106/story/333738.html

Armstrong vaulters hope to remain class of the sport

Brian Stensaas, Star Tribune

Again this year, Falcons pole vaulters are setting high goals. A pair of boys' veterans and a girls' champion lead the way.

Robbinsdale Armstrong senior Brandon Johnson glanced at a clock in the school's secondary gym on a recent afternoon. The time was 5:45.

"This is an early night for us," he said. "We're in here practicing a lot."

This season, Johnson and the rest of the Falcons' pole vaulting team will spend a lot of time in the dimly lit space.

Improvements being made this spring to the high school's stadium field will prevent the Falcons from practicing outside.

Indoors or out, though, it shouldn't matter. In recent history, the Falcons have proven that they are the ones to beat when it comes to pole vaulting.

Last season, Johnson, fellow senior Ross Werner and the now-graduated Derek Oslund all represented the Falcons at the boys' Class AA meet. In addition, senior Alicia Rue made it to state in girls' Class AA, setting a state record with a jump of 12 feet, 9 inches.

"I think the main thing is that they've all seen what it's like to be at the top, so they're willing to do what it takes to get there," Armstrong pole vaulting coach Chris Milton said. "These kids are all smart, and all good, hard workers."

The three returning from last year's state meet all began pole vaulting as freshmen. Werner and Rue said they decided to give it a try after hearing about it from friends. Johnson, meanwhile, got into the sport for two reasons: His sister was a state pole vaulter, and he had a gymnastics background.

"A lot of what we do up there relates to gymnastics," he said. "We're comfortable being upside down high up in the air."

The three have gotten progressively better over the past three years. And they have set some high goals for their senior seasons.

Johnson and Werner said they want to eclipse 16 feet. The state record is 15-7.

"I want that record," Werner said. "But I'm hoping for 16."

Rue, who has signed a letter of intent to compete for the Gophers, said she is shooting for 13-6.

"It's a challenge," she said. "But I like that. I like tracking my progress."

Milton, who was a high school pole vaulter for Minneapolis Washburn and in college at St. Thomas, is pleased with what he has seen so far.

He said the marks his vaulters are hitting already in practice are above what they were clearing last season.

And it's that way with young talent, too.

Eighth-grader Patrick Hayden has already cleared 9 feet this spring. The freshman record at Armstrong is 11-6.

"The kids are ready," Milton said. "If they can do what they did last year, or even improve a little, I'll be happy."

quote:
Katie Cerling of Plymouth, Minn., captured the pole vault title with a career-best mark at the John Dalton Memorial Meet on Saturday at the DakotaDome. Cerling vaulted 12?01, which is a provisional mark for the NCAA Division II national meet.

http://www.usdcoyotes.com/sports/track/release.asp?RELEASE_ID=2988

Congratulations Katie!!!  That's an awesome jump!  Keep up the hard work!

Steve, Caroline, Monica and I got special permission to jump at the U of M this Saturday.  

Paul is planning on jumping at River Falls.  You can register on Raceberry Jam.  

Jason, Let me know if you need to come get your poles.

Armstrong High School Track & Field, Spring 2007
Jumps Coach Wanted: HJ
Preferred Candidates will have successfully competed at the Collegiate Level (I-III)
Contact Kevin Moorhead for more details
kmoorhead@comcast.net

Here is a document I created to keep track of your jumps.  This is a good way for beginner athletes to remember what they did their last vault session.  This is also good for advanced vaulters to track trends in their jumps.

http://forums.flightdeckathletics.com/temp/athletelog.xls

Here is an athlete log that I created: http://www.flightdeckathletics.com/temp/AthleteLog.xls

I printed off 50 copies of this and bound it into a book so it is durable and I can keep it in my bag for practices and meets.

Feel free to customize it for your needs.

Enjoy!

Here is a meet scoring sheet that I made up.  Enjoy!

http://forums.flightdeckathletics.com/temp/meetscoring2.pdf

http://www.startribune.com/stories/512/5445250.html

Track: Privilege, not pressure for Gophers
Michael Rand,  Star Tribune
June 8, 2005
 
Gophers freshman pole vaulter Andrea Smith, who will compete in the NCAA Championships that run today through Saturday in Sacramento, Calif., had her first taste of competitive pressure as a sophomore from Bemidji at the state high school meet.

"The pole vault started, and the girls were freaking out," Smith said. "I was calm, and I was thinking, 'Why are they doing this to themselves?' "

Pole vaulting, Smith could plainly reason, is not a life-or-death situation. Smith, 19, knew it because she has seen a real life-or-death struggle -- the one her older brother, Brad, has endured since he was born. An autoimmune disorder and a rare form of diabetes are among his ailments. He also needs a new pancreas, though two transplant attempts have failed. A battle over insurance is the next step before doctors can attempt a third procedure.

Brad wasn't supposed to live past 8, but now he's 22. Smith's vaulting career and Brad's medical history have forged a symbiotic relationship over the years: Both siblings give each other a reason to keep fighting.

The Smith house is actually 25 miles north of Bemidji in northwest Minnesota, which Andrea confirms is "the middle of nowhere." She loves the life: camping, fishing and especially hunting, with a 10-point buck to her credit. It doesn't quite sound like a background made for pole vaulting, but Smith was drawn to it as a freshman.

"There's a certain point where you fall in love with it," Smith said.

She ended up winning a state championship as a sophomore, but by clearing only 11 feet with her winning vault, Smith said she "felt like she was cheating." Smith repeated as champion as a junior (11-6) and set a state meet record at 12-7 ? in winning as a senior.

The Gophers liked her talent and her character.

"We had a good connection with her," said Gophers assistant Matt Bingle, who recruited Smith. "She's a blue-collar kid, and she has responded to the competition."

As Smith has excelled, Brad has been one of her biggest fans. He was hospitalized after his first transplant failed. It was Andrea's junior year in high school and the state meet was approaching. His doctor recommended otherwise, but Brad was determined to see her compete. When Smith's father, Terry, wheeled Brad into the stadium just before she was going to compete, it was a moment Andrea won't forget.

"He said, 'You'd better win because I got out of the hospital just to watch you,' " Smith said. "I didn't even care about the meet at that point. I was just glad he was there. It was probably the first time I saw it from the standpoint that I was lucky. He put things in perspective for me."

Smith spent part of this past fall shuttling between the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, as Brad awaited a second transplant. She was there when Brad found out it had failed.

"I've never seen anyone cry so hard," Smith said. "My dad and I were in the corner of the room, and we couldn't help but cry. It was so awful."

Smith is emphatic about one point: She does not want sympathy. While she wishes her brother didn't have to struggle for survival, she also feels it has made her family closer -- and given her a unique outlook on her chosen sport.

She will bring that outlook into the NCAA meet, with her mom and grandmother (JoAnne and Sharon) expected to attend. She is not favored to win, nor does she have a specific height she would like to clear. But Smith can guarantee she will try her hardest.

"My parents always say, 'If you could put Brad's heart into someone who could play sports, there would be no stopping that person,' " Smith said. "That's always served as a huge motivation. When I think, 'I don't want to lift weights today,' I pause and think, 'At least I can.' "

[Limited to eight ( athletes!]

The 2005 Summer Camp will have 2 vault practices per week along with speed/strength/endurance workouts for improved vault performance.  All poles are included.

The camp will be held at Armstrong High School in Plymouth, MN (HWY 169 & 36th Ave N).

The camp will be six(6) weeks long from Monday June 13th ? Thursday July 21st.
(12 vault practices)

Vault practices will tentatively be on Monday and Thursday at 5:30pm.

Limited to eight ( athletes!

To reserve your spot:
1--Print this page.
2--Fill out the following information.
3--Mail the information and Check ($360) to reserve your spot.
4--Look for your name in the response of this post to confirm that your spot has been reserved.

=======================================================
Name


Age


Phone number


Weight


School


Year in School


Name of your vault coach


USATF membership number (get at www.usatfmn.org)


Best vault in a meet


Any medical information we should know about (allergies, asthma, etc)


Emergency contact information (name, daytime phone #, etc)


=======================================================

Call me at 612.747.3214 if there are any questions.

Go to www.NeoVault.com to order.  We saw a sample of this video at the Pole Vault Summit in Reno and it looks pretty cool!  I already ordered a copy.

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   1 Matt Novak, Uw-La Crosse                 16-6  (5.03m)
   2 Steve White, Flight Deck Athletics       16-6  (5.03m)
   3 Nick Pergande, Uw-La Crosse              16-6  (5.03m)
   4 Chris Milton, Flight Deck Athletics  15-3 1/2  (4.66m)
   5 Alex Tapplin, Uw-La Crosse           15-3 1/2  (4.66m)
   6 John Heinz, Uw-La Crosse             14-9 1/2  (4.51m)
   7 Andrew Soderstrom, Uw-La Crosse      14-9 1/2  (4.51m)
   8 Nate Page, St. Thomas                13-9 3/4  (4.21m)
   9 Brad Hansen, St. Thomas              13-3 3/4  (4.06m)
  10 Alex Kim, St. Thomas                    12-10  (3.91m)
  11 Evan Sundquist, St. Olaf                12-10  (3.91m)
  12 Any Dauer, St. Thomas                    12-4  (3.76m)
  13 Alex Walsh, St. Thomas               11-4 1/4  (3.46m)


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   1 Andrea Smith, Minnesota                  12-6  (3.81m)
   2 Monica Stearns, Flight Deck Athletics    12-6  (3.81m)
   3 Amanda Frame, MSU Mankato                12-6  (3.81m)
   4 Karolien Bastiaens,Flight Deck Athletics 12-0  (3.66m)
   5 Marci Miller, South Dakota               12-0  (3.66m)
   6 Ashley Nord, Minnesota                   12-0  (3.66m)
   7 Laura Massey, Minnesota              11-0 1/4  (3.36m)
   8 Shanna Dawson, Gustavus Adolphus     10-6 1/4  (3.21m)
   9 Alicai Blomquist, Gustavus Adolphus  10-6 1/4  (3.21m)
   9 Jessica Kay, Minnesota Duluth        10-6 1/4  (3.21m)
   9 Kristi Schneider, Gustavus Adolphus  10-6 1/4  (3.21m)
  12 Katie Cerling, South Dakota          10-6 1/4  (3.21m)
  13 Taylor Debel, MSU Mankato            10-6 1/4  (3.21m)
  14 Elizabeth Ghandour, St. Olaf         10-6 1/4  (3.21m)
  15 Kelsey Riggins, Unattached               10-0  (3.05m)
  15 Jen Heiman, MSU Mankato                  10-0  (3.05m)
  17 Katie Dvoracek, South Dakota             10-0  (3.05m)
  18 Linnea Campbell, MSU Mankato             10-0  (3.05m)
  19 Marla Nelson, St. Olaf                   10-0  (3.05m)
  20 Danielle Larson, St. Cloud State         10-0  (3.05m)
  20 Leah Perzichilli, Concordia St. Paul     10-0  (3.05m)
  22 Klancy Nixon, MSU Mankato             9-0 1/4  (2.75m)
  22 Julie Johnston, Minnesota Duluth      9-0 1/4  (2.75m)
  22 Kathleen Koval, Bethel                9-0 1/4  (2.75m)
  25 Tiffany Tersteeg, Minnesota Duluth    9-0 1/4  (2.75m)
  25 Kalisha Anthony, Minnesota Duluth     9-0 1/4  (2.75m)
  27 Janna Castellano, Gustavus Adolphus   9-0 1/4  (2.75m)
     Caitlin Peck, Minnesota Duluth             NH        
     Madolyn Elias, Minnesota Duluth            NH        
     Heidi Hale, Minnesota Duluth               NH


[Women:]

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[url="http://www.raceberryjam.com/minnopenwomen.html#17"]Women:[/url]
1 Andrea Smith, Minnesota               12-3 1/2  (3.75m)
    (3.15[2], 3.30, 3.45[2], 3.60, 3.75)
2 Monica Stearns, Flight Deck Athletics 12-3 1/2  (3.75m)
    (3.15[2], 3.30[2], 3.45, 3.60[2], 3.75)
3 Kimberly Hilton, North Dakota State   11-3 3/4  (3.45m)
    (3.45)
4 Laura Massey, Minnesota               11-3 3/4  (3.45m)
    (3.00, 3.15, 3.30[2], 3.45)
5 Tami Hels, Unattached                 11-3 3/4  (3.45m)
    (2.85[2], 3.00, 3.15[2], 3.30[2], 3.45)
6 Ashley Nord, Minnesota               11-3 3/4  (3.45m)
    (2.85[2], 3.00[2], 3.15, 3.30[3], 3.45[2])
7 Caroline White, Flight Deck Athletics 10-10  (3.30m)
    (3.30[2])
8 Jessica Fleck, North Dakota           10-10  (3.30m)
    (3.00[2], 3.15, 3.30[3])
9 Kelsey Riggins, Unattached             10-4  (3.15m)
    (2.85[2], 3.00, 3.15)
10 Julie Strenkowski, North Dakota State     10-4  (3.15m)
    (2.55[3], 3.15)
11 Maria Wilkes, St. Benedict               9-10  (3.00m)
    (2.85[2], 3.00[2])
Leah Perzichilli, Concordia St. Paul       NH

[url="http://www.raceberryjam.com/minnopenmen.html#17"]Men:[/url]
1 Steve White, Flight Deck Athletics     16-6  (5.03m)
    (4.57, 4.73, 4.88, 5.03[2])
1 Marc Steckler, Unattached                   16-6  (5.03m)
    (4.88, 5.03[2])
3 Chris Milton, Flight Deck Athletics    16-0  (4.88m)
    (4.27, 4.42, 4.57[2], 4.73[3], 4.88)
4 Scott Burry, Flight Deck Athletics     15-6 1/4  (4.73m)
    (4.27, 4.57, 4.73)
5 Matt Merkey, Minnesota                      15-6 1/4  (4.73m)
    (4.42, 4.57, 4.73[2])
6 Tony Halland, North Dakota State            15-0  (4.57m)
    (4.27, 4.42[3], 4.57[2])
7 Clark Carlson, North Dakota                 14-6  (4.42m)
    (3.97, 4.27[2], 4.42)
8 Shawn Francis, North Dakota State           14-6  (4.42m)
    (4.27[3], 4.42)
9 Elliott Esch, Minnesota                     14-6  (4.42m)
    (4.27, 4.42[3])
9 Nate Schmidt, Team Nodak                    14-6  (4.42m)
    (4.42[3])
11 Adam Johnson, Minnesota-Duluth             14-0  (4.27m)
    (3.97, 4.27)
12 Matt Hawn, Saint John's                    14-0  (4.27m)
    (3.97, 4.27[2])
13 Ben Graham, Unattached                     13-0 1/4  (3.97m)
    (3.66, 3.97)
13 Patrick Hegel, Saint John's                13-0 1/4  (3.97m)
    (3.97)
13 Chae Zeller, Saint John's                  13-0 1/4  (3.97m)
    (3.66, 3.97)
16 Eric Johnson, North Dakota                 12-0  (3.66m)
    (3.66)
16 Paul Grabow, Flight Deck Athletics    12-0  (3.66m)
    (3.66)
18 Jamie Steffen, Flight Deck Athletics  12-0  (3.66m)
    (3.66[2])
Kyle Herman, North Dakota State               NH        
Rob Friendt, Saint Mary's                     NH


[[url="http://www.raceberryjam.com/nwopenmen.html#18"]Men:[/url]]

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[url="http://www.raceberryjam.com/nwopenmen.html#18"]Men:[/url]
1 Matt Merkey, Minnesota                         15-5  (4.70m)
2 Chris Milton, Flight Deck Athletics           14-11  (4.55m)
3 Tim Jankowich, Unattached                  14-5 1/4  (4.40m)
4 Matt Schroeder, St. Thomas                 14-5 1/4  (4.40m)
4 Lyndon McDowell, Unattached                14-5 1/4  (4.40m)
6 Tom Crummy, Bemidji State                  14-5 1/4  (4.40m)
7 Travis Brandstatter, Minnesota            13-11 1/4  (4.25m)
8 Mike Aulwes, St Cloud State               13-11 1/4  (4.25m)
9 Tavis Freidt, University of Mary           13-5 1/4  (4.10m)
10 Ryan Morey, Bethel                        13-5 1/4  (4.10m)
11 Brad Hansen, St. Thomas                  12-11 1/2  (3.95m)
12 Robert Messer, University of Mary        12-11 1/2  (3.95m)
13 Zack Axtman, University of Mary          12-11 1/2  (3.95m)
14 Adam Johnson, Unattached                 12-11 1/2  (3.95m)
15 Jamie Steffen, Flight Deck Athletics      12-5 1/2  (3.80m)
16 Paul Grabow, Flight Deck Athletics        12-5 1/2  (3.80m)
16 Matt Engebretson, Minnesota               12-5 1/2  (3.80m)
16 Tony Wood, University of Mary             12-5 1/2  (3.80m)
19 Bobby Scepaniak, St Cloud State          11-11 3/4  (3.65m)
20 Bowie McClasky, Unattached                11-5 3/4  (3.50m)
21 Jim Wolter, Flight Deck Athletics         11-5 3/4  (3.50m)

[url="http://www.raceberryjam.com/nwopenwomen.html#17"]Women:[/url]
1 Karolien Bastiaens, Flight Deck Athletics 11-11 3/4  (3.65m)
2 Monica Stearns, Flight Deck Athletics      11-4 3/4  (3.47m)
3 Andrea Smith, Minnesota                    11-4 3/4  (3.47m)
4 Caroline White, Flight Deck Athletics      10-5 3/4  (3.19m)
4 Ashley Nord, Minnesota                     10-5 3/4  (3.19m)
4 Kristen Schwehr, University of Mary        10-5 3/4  (3.19m)
7 Laura Massey, Minnesota                    10-5 3/4  (3.19m)
8 Ann Marie Simonich, University of Mary     10-5 3/4  (3.19m)
8 Tami Hels, Unattached                     10-5 3/4  (3.19m)
10 Janet Hengel, Flight Deck Athletics       10-5 3/4  (3.19m)
11 Lisa Dobbs, University of Mary                10-0  (3.05m)
12 Kelsey Riggins, Unattached                 9-5 3/4  (2.89m)
13 Danielle Larson, St Cloud State                9-0  (2.74m)
14 Angela Miller, Bemidji State                   9-0  (2.74m)
15 Lauren Tognetti, University of Mary            9-0  (2.74m)
15 Ryan Poppleton, University of Mary             9-0  (2.74m)
17 Leah Perzichilli, Concordia University         9-0  (2.74m)
18 Anna Sandoval, St Cloud State                  8-0  (2.44m)


6-Jump-meet at Armstrong

Everyone is welcome
pits open at 4:30pm for warm-ups
individuals may start their competition at any time
by 6:00pm, warm-ups are done and everyone competing
Everyone gets 6-competition bars, placed anywhere
pits closed at 8:30pm, regardless of the competition as the mosquitos get bad
$10 entry fee, crossbar breakage is covered
poles use included (buy what you break/damage)
(2) workers will run the meet and assist vaulters as needed

6-Jump-meet at Armstrong

Everyone is welcome
pits open at 4:30pm for warm-ups
individuals may start their competition at any time
by 6:00pm, warm-ups are done and everyone competing
Everyone gets 6-competition bars, placed anywhere
pits closed at 8:30pm, regardless of the competition as the mosquitos get bad
$10 entry fee, crossbar breakage is covered
poles use included (buy what you break/damage)
(2) workers will run the meet and assist vaulters as needed

The meet this week is on. It will be similar format as last week.

Location: Armstrong High School - HWY 169 & 36th Ave N

Here's this week's format--"Rolling Start with a Mulligan"
--The pits will be open at 4pm and will close at 8pm.
--Each vaulter is allowed unlimited warm-up jumps (1 warm-up bar)
--We will run it as a "rolling start"--when you're ready, you begin
--Each vaulter chooses the bar heights he/she starts at
--The meet progresses as a normal meet for each person
--Each vaulter is allowed one "Mulligan" (one time fourth attempt)
--The cost is $10 to compete, and $5 more if you want to use our complete line of poles.
--Workers will be hired to set bars and standards for the athletes.

--Top male and Top female will be considered our two winners and be returned their $10 entry fee (as a prize)

The meet this week is on.  It will be similar format as last week.

Location: Armstrong High School - HWY 169 & 36th Ave N

Here's this week's format--"Rolling Start with a Mulligan"
--The pits will be open at 4pm and will close at 8pm.
--Each vaulter is allowed unlimited warm-up jumps (1 warm-up bar)
--We will run it as a "rolling start"--when you're ready, you begin
--Each vaulter chooses the bar heights he/she starts at
--The meet progresses as a normal meet for each person
--Each vaulter is allowed one "Mulligan" (one time fourth attempt)
--The cost is $10 to compete, and $5 more if you want to use our complete line of poles.
--Workers will be hired to set bars and standards for the athletes.

--Top male and Top female will be considered our two winners and be returned their $10 entry fee (as a prize)