Keith Bennett article (ND)

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.macon.com/mld/grandforks/spo ... rks_sports

GF GERRELLS TRACK MEET: Bennett hits new heights
Central sophomore wins pole vault
By Kevin Fee
Herald Staff Writer

Grand Forks Central sophomore Keith Bennett says his state-qualifying vault came late. His pole vault coach, John Perry, says Bennett is actually ahead of schedule.

"It feels like a bunch of weight lifted off me right now," Bennett said after going 12 feet, 6 inches in the pole vault to win first-place honors and qualify for state at the Grand Forks Gerrells track and field meet Saturday. "In practice, I've been making it.

"I felt it coming. It was a bit late."

In his 10 seasons as pole vault coach, Perry had never had a sophomore qualify for state until Bennett went up and got his personal-best vault in the Gerrells meet.

Perry said sophomores generally reach about 11 feet if they begin vaulting in his program as freshmen, as Bennett did.

"You'll improve a foot a year, roughly," Perry said. "We're looking at 10 feet your freshman year, 11, 12 and then going to state your senior year.

"It takes two years to learn the event. He's still just learning the basics of getting comfortable on the runway, and getting to the pit every time."

Work habits have been the key to Bennett's sudden rise.

"He's got no speed, basically," Perry said. "He's slow, and his technique is coming on, but he has a work ethic. He takes the extra time to work on the little things, work his plant, work on his takeoff.

"It's just a matter of time and getting in the weight room now and getting stronger and faster."

Bennett actually stopped vaulting on a make Saturday at Cushman Field. He had worked hard in practice Friday, and Perry didn't want to overextend him.

"Personally, I don't focus on each individual meet," Perry said. "I try to get them to do their best at the end of the year. And the only way we can do that is to work them real hard on the days that are nice days."

Though he stopped at 12-6 on Saturday, Bennett is well ahead of his freshman personal record of 10-6.

"Last year, I had about five freshmen who were all pretty close to the same," Perry said. "And this year he (Bennett) just exploded away from the other guys. He's worked harder than the other guys."