Atain Jones reaching up and out for more (GA)

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http://www.macon.com/197/story/308552.html

Warner Robins pole vaulter reaching up and out for more
By Chris Deighan - Telegraph correspondent
WARNER ROBINS --Pole vaulter Atain Jones wants to push himself to new heights, but an equipment malfunction has delayed his progress.
The Warner Robins senior record holder had hoped to try out a longer, 16-foot pole this week in time for the Fendley Relays, but the shipment was delayed. When it finally did arrive, the pole was damaged. As a result, Jones continued to work with his 14-foot pole.

It was good enough. Jones cleared 12-6 on Thursday to win the event and help his Demons teammates reclaim the Fendley championship from last year's winner, Perry High.

Still, Jones thinks in order to improve on his fifth-place performance at the 2007 GHSA state track meet, he needs a longer pole. It's simple logic, he said. The longer the pole, the higher he can vault.

"With good technique, you can get as high as the pole that you're vaulting with," he said. "But with really good technique, you can get even higher by letting the spring release you up and over."

The longer pole is also heavier by 15 pounds. The weight difference affects speed down the runway, which in turn impacts the amount of torque Jones can generate when driving the pole into the box.

"That one's really hard to bend," Jones said. "You have to have a lot of speed and muscle."

Jones moved to Warner Robins from Delaware prior to his sophomore year in high school. He was a member of his school's track team as a freshman, but said it was rather disorganized. He ran sprints at the time and only fooled around with vaulting as a lark.

"I taught myself how to pole vault," he said.

As a new Demon, Jones quickly began clearing bars. There was a legacy of vaulting success at Warner Robins with J.R. Peeples and Brad Erickson, among others. (Erickson's sister, Emily, now vaults on the girls team.) Jones decided he could be a part of the Demons' success story.

With each measure of success, he gained more confidence. The event offers a blend of speed, strength and wiry athleticism that fits his 5-feet-11-inch frame.

Today, Jones holds the school vault record. He cleared 13 feet at the state high school meet a year ago; good enough for fifth place in Class AAAAA.