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http://www.wataugademocrat.com/topic.ph ... 5&sid=3831

Onward and upward

03/31/2004 By Bill Cain

Sallie Gurganus set the Watauga girls pole vault record at 10-feet, 6-inches.

In each of her first two meets, Sallie Gurganus set the school record in the pole vault. Both times she broke it in poor conditions.

“It’s been unbelievable,â€Â

I got information from NC that a female russian gymnast vaulted 12'6" at a big meet this weekend. Anyone care to confirm that?

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/14005674.htm

Gurganus is N.C.'s best girls' pole vaulter -- ever
BRETT HONEYCUTT
bhoneycutt@charlotteobserver.com
Sallie Gurganus seemed to be a natural pole vaulter the first day she tried the event.

Watauga High vault coach Daniel Isaacs remembers it clearly, because he had never seen someone so good.

"Matter of fact, I told one of our assistant coaches the first day that she was the best I'd ever seen," said Isaacs, who was a star vaulter at Watauga and also vaulted at Appalachian State. "And she didn't slow down from there, and she's continued to improve and be the best I've ever seen in this state."

Gurganus, then a freshman at Watauga, cleared 9 feet on her first try.

Fast forward to her senior year, and she's lived up to Isaacs' prediction. Gurganus, who has signed with South Carolina, is the best girls' vaulter in N.C. history.

Her vault of 11 feet, 8 inches at the N.C. 4A championships last spring was the best performance in N.C. history and was her second straight 4A outdoor title.

This winter, she upped her best to 11-9, setting the N.C. all-time indoor record. She also won the N.C. indoor title for the second straight year.

Her fearless attitude -- cultivated from years of gymnastics -- her work ethic, and ability to take instruction are why she's so successful.

And pushing the mark even higher isn't a question of if, but when, Isaacs said. Gurganus has cleared 12-6 in practice many times.

"I think it comes down to her work ethic," Isaacs said. "Not that the other vaulters don't work hard.

"It would be hard for them to work harder than she does, because I've never seen anybody work that hard."

sallie is good, but the indoor state meet was won on scratches, not on height. there were 3 girls who broke the nc indoor state record with 11'6. im sure sallie should wint he outdoor meet this year though.

The state meet record is shared by three girls but the all time best is held by sallie 11'9" and she still has one meet remaining. Sallie should get over the 12' mark in New York. Sallie has yet to go from a long run this year but she will in New York.

what stick, and run is she going to use in NY, and what meet is it? Did she qualify for nike indoor?

Sallie has been mostly jumping from 6L but I think she will run from 7L and 8L in NY. The biggest stick she has jumped on is a 12"4 140 but she will use a 13'3" 135, 13'6" 140 and 14' 130 in NY. We are going to the National Scholastic Indoor Champs at the Armory. We have Three girls competing. The competion is pretty good but not as good as Nike. Should be fun we went last year and sallie made the finals. If every thing goes well she could be top five maybe three.

vaultman18 wrote:Sallie has been mostly jumping from 6L but I think she will run from 7L and 8L in NY. The biggest stick she has jumped on is a 12"4 140 but she will use a 13'3" 135, 13'6" 140 and 14' 130 in NY. We are going to the National Scholastic Indoor Champs at the Armory. We have Three girls competing. The competion is pretty good but not as good as Nike. Should be fun we went last year and sallie made the finals. If every thing goes well she could be top five maybe three.

If she is only on a 12'4 pole now, why move so quickly to longer poles? Even at a longer run, if she is gripping ~12' from from 6L, I can't imagine her gripping high enough to need a 14' pole, even from 8L.

Then again, I have never seen her jump.

yeah, that is a pretty big jump, but i believe sallie has been working on these stciks and knows whether or not she can get on them, but why didn't she use any of them at states?

Salie has a progression of poles if she needs them. Her grip will only slightly change but the stiffness of the poles will. In no way will we try to move her grip up more than 3 inces at a time. But you guys should know some times your hitting everything right and you can move through pole quickly. Just trying to be ready for everything.

yeah, i love having a good day, but then the bad days are horrible!

Sallie made the finals for sat. but sprained her ankle during warm-ups. Hopefully she will feel beter tomorrow, she only jumped from 5L in the prelim and jumped 11'1.5" to make it to th finals.