Byrne satisfies urge to compete, stays fit through pole vaul

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs ... 50426/1136

Byrne satisfies urge to compete, stays fit through pole vaulting
By ANDREW GROSS
THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: July 25, 2007)
Gerry Byrne still competes in the pole vault, 30 years after taking a silver in the first Empire State Games. It's just that his motivation is a little different now as a Masters athlete.

"The beauty about it is, people think you're a little crazy," said Byrne, a 51-year-old Ossining resident. "Everybody has a common interest - they like pushing the envelope. How far can you push yourself without getting hurt? It's more about personal performance goals. If you lose, don't worry about it."

This will mark the fourth straight year Byrne is competing in the Masters pole vault. His clearance of 13 feet won the gold in the 45-49 age category in 2004, and he took a silver in the same age group the following year with a 13-1. Last year, he earned a silver in the 50-54 category with an 11-6 despite a knee problem.

Byrne won the indoor state championship as an Ardsley senior in 1974 by clearing 14-6, then went to Eastern Illinois on a track and field scholarship. The first Empire State Games were in Syracuse in 1978, the summer he graduated from college.

"I don't live in the past, but it was one of my disappointments," said Byrne, now the commissioner of parks for the Town of Greenburgh. "I was injured all spring with a leg problem, and in the regionals, I cleared 15 feet. For this thing, I came in at 14-6. Then (my main competitor) went up to 14-9. I passed on it, and then he missed his three at 15-0, but I missed my three at 15-0."

Byrne went to graduate school near Chicago and lived in the Midwest until 1987, when he moved back to Westchester. Although he continued pole vaulting in club meets until he was 30, he never entered the Empire State Games open competition again.

In fact, he thought he was through with the sport until his son Brendan, now 21, began pole vaulting at Fordham Prep. Byrne, who officiates high school basketball games, began volunteering his time as a track assistant at his son's high school.

But that also revived the competitor in him. Plus, the 6-foot Byrne says it keeps him in shape. He weighed between 162 and 172 pounds in college, but said he reached as much as 205 before beginning to train again. He was down to about 170 for last year's Empire State Games.

Byrne said he hopes to continue competing as long as he can.

"As long as it continues to be fun, it's a good motivator, and it gives me short-term goals like watching my weight," Byrne said. "I'm going year by year on it. Or I might give it up in a couple of years, then wait till I'm 65 and pick it up again."

[Bubba PV]

Gotta love stories like the ones you post Becca. Thanks!! It's great for the athletes, sport and general community interest. Very cool! Bubba

[master]

I only wish there was a way these stories could be available in every town in the country. Who knows how many old vaulters are out there just needing that memory to be jogged. I know that is how I got back in at age 56, not having vaulted for 35 years.

Imagine if there were a way to find the names of all the HS and college vaulters from 1950 to 1980. Then find email addresses for them. Then send them links to every one of these stories that Becca (or anyone else) finds. Include information about how to contact their local masters organization. I can't even imagine how many returnees we would get into our beloved sport. As I write this, I'm trying to think of ways this might be done.

Any comments? Post any ideas here. If it gets to be a topic of interest, I'm sure Becca could break it out into its own Topic.

- master