Dallavalle, Wood and Stoll represent Lincoln area at National Junior Olympics

[AUG. 3, 2000]  It isn’t often that as a young person you get the chance to stray too far from home. But perhaps part of the lure of becoming a member of Coach John Meisner’s Lincoln Track Club is just that…an opportunity to enjoy your sport while seeing the country. At least that’s what the athletes are telling the LDN sports editor and anyone else that’s interested. I caught up with our track stars as they returned home from their glorious participation in the Junior Olympics in Buffalo, N.Y. This week the LDN reports their take on the action out East…

First from Mary Wood

Q: Mary, tell us a little about your experience at Nationals.

A: We had a great time in New York. As for the competition in pole vaulting, it was pretty good. There were over 40 girls in my division. My goal was to set a PR (personal record or personal best) at 10’. I only made the height of 9’6", which I have done a few times before. My PR is 9’8", accomplished earlier this year in Bloomington. My vault of 9’6" was good enough to get me 18th place in the nation (ed. note: it’s also good enough to get her a full-ride athletic scholarship…so all you moms and dads out there that are looking for college money…track and field may not be a bad way to go). The competition was all held on one day. I just didn’t feel like I was jumping my best, although, in my attempts to set my PR at 10’, I did clear the bar a couple of times and either scraped it off on my way down or kicked it off. I probably shouldn’t have moved the standards like I did after the first vault. I probably would have been better off just to leave them alone. In fact, I might have cleared that height if I hadn’t of messed with them.

 

 

Q: What kind of training regiment do you tracksters follow?

A: We practice every Tuesday and Thursday starting at 4:15. Sometimes we go until 7 or 8.

Q: How many members are in the club?

A: This year we had about 10 members. Three of us qualified for the National Junior Olympics. Myself, Tony Dallavalle and Christina Stoll all made the qualifications to advance to Nationals.

Q: Who else went with you athletes?

A: The adult sponsors for the trip were our coach, John Meisner; Jason Jackson; and Marcia Stoll.

Q: Where have you traveled for track meets this summer?

A: We’ve had meets in Bloomington, Decatur and several in the Chicago area. We also went to Indiana and of course the trip to New York.

[LDN: Marcia Stoll informed me that over the last few years the kids have participated in meets in California, Texas, Louisiana, Washington and Nebraska.]

 

 

 

 

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Q: What has Coach Meisner meant to you?

A: Coach Meisner has been a very big part of my track career. He has pushed me to do so many things. I probably would have never gotten a college scholarship if it hadn’t of been for him. He is tough and he makes you work, but look at the results.

Q: What are your college plans?

A: I will be attending Eastern Illinois University on a full athletic scholarship. I would like to break the women’s pole vault record there, which stands at 10’, and then go from there.

LDN: Mary, on behalf of all of us here at the LDN…congratulations on an outstanding scholastic career and good luck at EIU. We want to hear more from you in the future.

Next up…Christina Stoll

LDN: Christina participated in the midget division (ages 10-12) high jump. She finished in 28th place, but reminded us that she finished seventh in the nation, last year in Omaha, Neb.!

Q: Christina, what was the highlight of your trip to New York?

A: Seeing Niagara Falls. I couldn’t believe how much water there was. It was cool.

Q: How did you feel about competing in an older age group at the Nationals?

A: It was kind of scary. All of the other girls were older and could jump higher.

 

 

Q: How did you feel about your performance?

A: I could have done better. My knee injury was acting up, but I should have done better anyway.

Q: What is your favorite track and field event?

A: The one that I participate in…the high jump. I also qualified for regionals in the shot put. I will probably continue to participate in that event as well.

LDN: Again, the LDN congratulates Christina on a fine showing this summer and wishes her continued success in her academic and athletic endeavors!

Side Note: The LDN regrets that we were not able to contact Tony Dallavalle. Repeated attempts did not lead to a contact. We felt our readers needed to know of his outstanding efforts at the national meet. Tony finished ninth in the high jump, fourth in the long jump, and he was the national champion in the pentathlon! Congratulations, Tony…nice going!

And nice going to all Lincoln Track Club members for yet another fruitful summer. Also, hats off to Coach Meisner, Jason Jackson, Marcia Stoll and all other parents and workers who helped in any way to make this venture a success. The LDN feels that if more kids and adults were involved in activities like this, the world would be a much better place in which to live!

 

[Jeff Mayfield]

 

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