Daniel Loftin Article (AR)

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Tech pole vaulter reaching new heights

By JEREMY MANGRUM
DAILY PRESS




Daily Press photo by Nick Nesler
Tech's Daniel Loftin soars over the bar during the pole vault event at Tuesday's Eagle Relays at GCT. Loftin cleared 12 feet, 6 inches to finish second in the event.





PARAGOULD - Sometimes in the game of life, there are certain people that are meant to do certain things. Not all of us are lucky enough to realize exactly what that is but, the people that do are said to have "found their calling."

Well, if Greene County Tech High School's Daniel Loftin has a "calling" he may have found it.

Loftin began experimenting in the pole vault event for GCT track coach Greg Richey a little less than a month ago, and the junior has made some serious strides since that time.

Richey has always seen the potential for success in Loftin, but unfortunate circumstances kept the junior out of the track program until this season.





"Coach Richey has always wanted me to come out and be a part of the track team. I was going to try pole vault in the seventh grade, but I broke my foot then so I didn't get to come out," Loftin said. "I finally came out and tried it this year, and I really liked it."

Loftin began vaulting about three and a half weeks ago. When he started, Loftin topped out at a height of 9-6, but the progression since that time has been amazing, according to Richey.

The Tech junior has increased his personal best by an average of almost one foot per week, culminating in a new personal best of 12-6 that was good enough for second place at Tuesday's Eagle Relays at GCT. That mark not only is a milestone for Loftin, but it does more than threaten the school record of 13-9.

"One of my main goals for this year is to break the school record. That is something that I am really shooting for," Loftin noted. "I think that record has stood since 1991, and I just think it would be neat to set a new mark."




Although Loftin seems to have an uncanny knack for the event, he credits much of his success to the years he spent competing in gymnastics.

"One thing that really helped me to pick this up so quickly was my gymnastics background," Loftin stressed. "I was in gymnastics for nine years, and my old coach said that there are a lot of things that pole vault and gymnastics have in common."

The ever-improving Loftin has other goals in mind besides just shattering the GCT record. Now that he has realized how much he enjoys the event, Loftin hopes to bring home a championship from the AAAA-East district meet later this season, and possibly pursue vaulting at the collegiate level.

"I think if I can get up to 13 feet by the time the district meet gets here I would have a chance to win it. I think that is a legitimate goal right now," Loftin added. "I would like to keep improving and get up to or above 14 feet by next year, and then maybe some people will look at giving me a scholarship."

Richey has been extremely pleased with what Loftin has been able to accomplish thus far, and he thinks the best is yet to come for Loftin.

"It is just amazing what Daniel has been able to do in less than a month when you consider the fact that he has never vaulted before," Richey stated. "I told him that if he can get to a level around 14 or 15 feet, there will be a lot of (colleges) taking a serious look at him."