Clearing new heights Clarke continues pole vaulting

By Elle Myers | Staff Writer

Junior Avery Clarke takes a deep breath before she begins to sprint down the runway, planting her pole into the ground. The pole bends as she flings herself over the bar, setting a new personal record.

For those who don’t know about pole vaulting, “the objective is to fling yourself over a bar in the air with a giant pole,” Clark said.

Clarke joined the track team last year because of her friends. She tried different sprinting and field events but fell in love with pole vaulting. She used to compete in gymnastics, cheer, and diving and thought it would make her transition to pole vaulting easier because of the flips.

At her first meet last year, she was unable to clear a single bar. At the next meet, she cleared her first bar and has been clearing higher levels ever since.

“It is fun to continue to improve as there is tangible growth,” Clarke said.

Progression

Normally, she practices twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, and the meets are over the weekend. However it is different this year because the team has to practice at St. Mark’s while Hockaday’s new athletic facilities are under construction.

Clarke said her biggest student inspiration in the sport is junior Gracie Little because she is a “Track God” and broke the school record for pole vaulting. Clarke looks at Little’s form to see what she can do to improve based on her technique.

“I love practicing with her because we push each other and have so much fun at the meets together,” Little said about Clarke.

In addition to Little, Clarke looks up to Coach Jen Fore because of her successful pole vaulting career. Fore gives Clarke advice on how to move back on the runway and the number of fists that go up on the pole for better results.