Reaching New Heights

A fear of heights is the least of Emily Coomb’s worries.

Coombs is a senior at OLu, and for the better part of her life - 14 years to be exact - she was a successful all-around gymnast, competing in the vault, beam, bars and floor exercise disciplines.

In fact, Coombs became a Level 10 gymnast, meaning she was one step away from becoming a professional.

But in her mind, she was more than a few steps from being a professional. In fact, she was nowhere near it.

“I was really burnt out.”

The grind of gymnastics had worn on Coombs and in the winter of 2014, Coombs had a decision to make. While at a gymnastics practice, Coombs fractured her orbital bone during an evening workout, which in her mind, was the sign that it was time to step away from the sport.

But that didn’t mean that Coombs was done being a high-flying athlete, which is why she revisited a past conversation with OLu track and field coach Clim Moore.

“My mom heard that gymnasts make good pole vaulters,” Coombs said. “Coach Moore had spoken to me sophomore year about joining the team but it was just too much at the time to balance with gymnastics and schoolwork.”

Despite maintaining a 4.3 GPA, serving as publicity coordinator for the Student Leadership Team, and participating in NART and Appalachia Missions trips, Coombs still amassed some newfound free time after halting her gymnastics career, and began pole vaulting in September of 2015.

“It’s really similar movement-wise,” said Coombs, comparing gymnastics to pole vaulting. “It uses a lot of the same feeling and muscles. My second week, I was jumping 8 feet. So I was able to pick it up pretty quick.”

Emily Coombs '17

Towards the beginning of the spring track and field season, Coombs traveled to Reno with her club team and competed in the National Pole Vault Summit.

And at her first meet, she jumped over 10 feet.

“I didn’t realize how good it was for a first-year vaulter but as time went on, I realized I could be good at this,” Coombs said.

Coombs only got better as the season continued. She finished in fourth place in the Trinity League Finals in early May, before moving onto the CIF Prelims and a week later, the CIF Finals.

At the CIF Finals, Coombs jumped a personal record of 11-9, breaking the OLu school record of 11-7 and qualifying for the CIF Masters Meet. And at the Masters Meet, after performing a series of qualifying jumps, Coombs earned a berth in the CIF State Track and Field Meet in Fresno, CA, in less than a year of participating in the pole vault.

Along the way to State, Coombs said that her “family in faith” at OLu helped guide the way.

"I felt so supported. I really like that we get to pray whenever we want, before meets and practices. All that I do is to give God glory and I think that is the most important thing."

Coombs said that she still loves to watch gymnastics, but that her urge to compete has been satisfied by pole vault, which she called “a lot more laid back.”

Next year, Coombs, who was also named to the OC Register All-County Track and Field team, is aiming to qualify for the CIF State Meet once again. She plans to spend the summer, fall and winter perfecting her technique and mechanics, as this season was simply focused on her jumping as high as possible.

As for her main goal heading into next season? Naturally, it’s a lofty one.

“I’m going to hit the 13-foot mark.”