Ayana Jackson

The summer before Ayana Jackson’s sophomore year in high school, her mother signed her up for a Beginner’s Clinic at Pole Vault Carolina. She was tired of Ayana lying around the house and knew her daughter loved unusual activities. Ayana appreciated the speed, power, and grace of the sport, the same elements she enjoyed about gymnastics.

To be successful in pole vault, Ayana believes you have to detach the ego. She has struggled with injuries and perfectionism. Like many former gymnasts, her perspective on her performance was either good or bad. She has grown and can now allow herself to fail and make a correction, rather than not try at all out of fear.

Ayana loves to prove herself wrong so when she gets over a bar that previously looked like a mountain, it is a feeling of great accomplishment. Her favorite pole vault memory was clearing 12’ and being congratulated by her mother’s former coach who appreciated seeing Ayana achieve a goal and do it with enthusiasm.

Through pole vault, Aya knows she can do anything she sets her mind to. Taking a cue from from Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality and Muhammad Ali’s mantra “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”, Ayana programs her brain before practices and meets. She creates a plan of execution with a side of unwavering belief. Ayana is working on her takeoff position, keeping her left arm pushing and being patient with the swing instead of yanking the pole immediately.

Now a senior at Hillside High School in Durham, Ayana plans to vault at the collegiate level and study psychology and business. Her long term goal is to become a sports psychologist. Ayana is the captain of her track team, secretary for the Student Government Association, and is a member of four honor societies!