Riley Egan interview (FL)

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.miamiherald.com/619/story/518032.html

Egan follows script

BY FABIAN LYON
flyon@MiamiHerald.com
As an aspiring movie producer and director, St. Thomas Aquinas pole vaulter Riley Egan realizes the value of a good script. If all goes as planned at the Class 3A state track-and-field meet Friday in Winter Park, Egan will be a central figure in the Raiders' quest for an elusive boys' track title. With a state-leading and career-best vault of 16 feet, 4 ¾ inches, which ranks eighth in the nation, Egan is favored to win his second consecutive state title and break the state record (15-10) that was set last year.

Egan's next stop will be UCLA, where he will vault and attend its School of Theatre, Film and Television. On Tuesday afternoon, after the Raiders fine-tuned preparations for the state meet, Egan discussed his budding film career and the pole vault.

Q. What factored in your decision to switch from the 800 meters to the pole vault six years ago?

A. I enjoyed running, but I enjoy pole vaulting more. I am happy I switched.

Too many circles [running]. You get bored after a little bit. You never get bored at pole vaulting.

Q. So what makes somebody want to pick up a pole, sprint down a runway and launch themselves more than 20 feet in the air?

A. I have always had a thing for gymnastics. I have always been kind of fast and had a good awareness of my body. I used to play on the monkey bars as a little kid. Pole vaulting felt like a natural to me. It looked like fun in the first place.

Q. You have already earned All-America status by clearing 16-6 ½ to finish second at the Nike Indoor Nationals six weeks ago and breaking the school record. What would it mean to close your high school career with the state record?

A. It would mean a lot to me. I have been working at it a long time. I am happy I am high above it so I won't need the perfect day to do it. My vault coach Bobby Haeck held it at one point.

Q. What height can we expect from you on Friday?

A. I can go 16.5, hopefully 17. Good weather conditions would be a big help to me. No wind or rain. Other than that, I have put in the work. I know I can do it.

Q. You have made a number of short films. Talk about your latest project.

A. The most recent film I've made is called Addiction. It is 20 minutes long. It is about a girl who became addicted to stealing. It is a little heavy. A little dark. It goes through her progression from starting as a small-time crook to stealing bigger things like cars. She ends up falling in love with a guy, and her partner in crime has come back and convinced her to steal something from him. It ends tragically for her.

Q. Name your favorite actor and the most overrated actor.

A. I am a big fan of [Miramar High School alumnus] Johnny Depp. He has a great range. He plays the parts very well. Very believable in what he does. He can take a role and adapt to it. As for overrated actor, Tom Cruise maybe. Tom Cruise is overrated.

Q. Have you ever tried to get inside the head of an opponent?

A. There is definitely a mind-game aspect to it. When I am at a meet and it comes down to the wire and I want to win, I am not against going out and trying to psych out my opponent a little bit.

Q. Describe the gamesmanship that occurs behind the scenes.

A. It could be in warmups, making sure I am jumping a lot higher than anybody else. Or as I am walking by a guy I am jumping against I will say something about the wind to get him thinking about it. Or ask him if the pit doesn't look a little funny. Doesn't the bar look crooked?

It is little things so they are not thinking about pole vaulting. It kind of throws them off a little bit. I generally do it to help my teammates more than myself.

Q. Has anybody tried to throw you off?

A. Yes. Kids will ask me what pole I am on or say I am short. I usually let it go. In one ear out the other. If I even take it seriously, I will work even harder to beat this guy now to show him I may be a foot shorter than you, but I can jump higher.

Q. You mentioned the adrenaline rush from pole vaulting is much more intense than running.

A. The adrenaline rush I got when I was running was great before the gun went off, then it would go away as soon as the race started.

In the vault, you feel it once you step on the back of the runway and it just keeps going once you get down the runway. You feel it pushing you harder. Going over the bar at the end is just that relief. Just the greatest feeling to clear that bar.

Q. How have the new security restrictions affected you from trying to tote six to eight poles on an airplane?

A. Before 9/11 it was a lot easier to fly with poles. That made it a lot harder because everybody got kind of spooked. But understandably. A lot of people just come up and ask. By now there are so few airlines that take the poles now. You usually call ahead and get to the airport early to make sure they get on.

Q. What do you say to those who assume vaulters have no fear?

A. I always like to have fun, but I have never done things that are incredibly risky. I don't even think pole vaulting is risky. If you do it right, it is a pretty safe thing to do. I was never into sky diving or racing motorcycles. I loved to climb things. I liked to be up high. Heights have never been a problem for me.

[vault3rb0y]

Haha i knew that bungee in practice at Nike wasnt crooked.... that little devil.

[polevaulter08nw]

haha riley you sly man!