Adams sisters article (FL)

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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sp ... 448125.htm

McCarthy's Adams determined to succeed
Archbishop McCarthy junior Katie Adams, despite several fractures in her left shin, will compete in the pole vault and is hoping to lead the Mavericks to a state title this weekend
BY FABIAN LYON
flyon@MiamiHerald.com

RIC GREEN / FOR THE MIAMI HERALD
TEAM LEADERS: Archbishop McCarthy will count on Sarah Adams, left, Chrissy Gratz, center, and Katie Adams to lead the Mavericks to a state title Saturday.
If they handed out gold medals for toughness at state track meets, Archbishop McCarthy junior Katie Adams would find herself atop the podium at the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 2A Track and Field Championships at Wolfson High School in Jacksonville on Saturday.

Adams will compete in the pole vault despite several fractures in her left shin that were discovered a month ago after a doctor's exam. Having the injury on her plant leg has compounded matters, but Adams has been determined to work through the pain.

''I can get through it,'' said Adams, who qualified in the event along with her twin sister, Sarah. ``It was bad, but it is not so bad to give it up all that I have worked for three years. My junior year is very important. I don't want to put it off for something I can work through. I just don't think about the pain.''

To minimize stress on her shins, Adams has reduced her training to primarily pull-ups, upper body weight work, stretching and only doing five steps on her take off instead of the customary full sprint down the runway.

COMPETITIVE TEAM

Adams personifies the highly competitive nature the Mavericks have adopted under coach Dave DiNicola, who has led them to a 56-2 tri-meet record, three district titles and consecutive region crowns since taking over three years ago.

At the Region 4-2A Championships on April 19, the Mavericks rolled up 81 points to outdistance runner-up Boca Pope John Paul II (65) and Jensen Beach (57). Although the trekking will get tougher at the 2A Finals on Saturday, duplicating last year's eighth-place finish might not be out of the question.

''We've been hurt with some key injuries, but I expect the girls to go up there and compete,'' DiNicola said. ``I tell them there are certain things they can control, which is their performance. If they compete on their best level they can be happy. I just want them believing that hard work pays off.''

Sarah and Katie Adams got valuable state experience last year when they qualified in the pole vault and finished fourth and sixth, respectively. This time, they will be accompanied by Lauren Marsicano, who qualified in the Discus, and freshman Chrissy Gratz, who will compete in the 300 hurdles, High Jump and Long Jump.

''Last year, it was exciting making it there,'' Sarah Adams said. ``Standing on the box and getting a medal was awesome. People are starting to notice us now and that feels good. We hope to medal in all our events.''

Jacksonville Episcopal's Daisy Glasser, who has cleared 12 feet this year, is the prohibitive favorite to win gold in the pole vault, which will most likely leave Sarah Adams battling Glasser's teammate Katherine Hered and Gulf Breeze's Lizzy Mabry for the silver.

While the Mavericks have made great strides under DiNicola they still haven't assembled enough talent and depth to contend with the likes of perennial powerhouse Tallahassee Florida High and Episcopal, who are expected to battle it out for the girls' team title. Episcopal comes into Saturday's meet beset by key injuries but still has enough firepower from their pole vault and distance crews to challenge Florida High -- the defending 2A champions. If Pensacola Woodham, Pope John Paul II and Jacksonville Bishop Kenny catch a few breaks they could find themselves in the hunt also.

''I fully expect Sarah to jump 11-6, if she does 12 foot and takes third I will be happy too,'' DiNicola said. ``Katie is 10-6 every day, I think she can get 11-6 if she has a great day. I would be disappointed if Katie and Sarah don't both medal along with Crissy in the high jump. In the long and triple jump we have to get lucky.''