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By Danielle Strenke
Senior Bo McClaskie had the confidence to believe he would make it to the pole vault finals at the section 7AA meet week in Cambridge.
His confidence increased tremendously when he watched as a vaulter who was picked to finish above him failed to clear the bar June 5 in the finals.
ìAs soon as he fell I knew I had a chance,î McClaskie said. The windy weather during the semifinals June 2 and the stormy weather during the finals June 5 did nothing to hinder McClaskieís performance; in fact, he said he does better in bad weather. ìI felt really good,î he said.
McClaskie advanced to last Saturdayís section finals and went on to capture first place in the event by clearing 13í7î. ìThe final round was really exciting,î McClaskie said.
The vault was not only McClaskieís personal record, but he also set a new North Branch High School record.
McClaskie said his successes this year have been built on more than three years of perfecting his vaulting as a member of the North Branch team.
In addition to vaulting and running during practice, McClaskie said he watches a lot of video of his vaults to improve in the event.
Working with volunteer pole vault coach Norm Nagel and head coach Brian Hasleiet Monday, McClaskie knew that placing at the state meet was going to be tough.
ìI know thereís really good competition at state,î he said.
His goal for the state meet is to simply record a vault over 14í ñ something he has done in several times in practices and knows he is capable of doing again.
McClaskie will face his biggest competition in the Class AA event from Shawn Francis of Hastings who comes into the pole vault with a vault of 14í7î. McClaskie is ranked ninth out of 17 vaulters in the class.
The pole vault competition, including preliminaries through finals, will begin at 10:00 a.m. Friday.
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