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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.]
(To
top of second column)
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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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