Scholarship for CARIFTA pole vault medallist (St Lucia)

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http://stluciastar.com/content/archives/10360

Scholarship for CARIFTA pole vault medallist

Written By: David pascal on Jan 22nd, 2010

Coach Andy Behl (centre) with CARIFTA gold medallist Shem Edward (l) and silver medallist Rick Vaicin.

With the retirement of this region’s premiere pole vaulter, Dominic Johnson, many wondered if anyone here could give St Lucians something to pin their future hopes on. Look no more!
He has humungous shoes to fill, but 19-year-old Rick Valcin of La Croix Maingot and a former student of Gros Islet Secondary School and Sir Arthur Lewis Community College is headed in the right direction. He recently received a partial scholarship to compete for Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas. He is headed there this week.
In an interview during a training session on Sunday at the George Odlum Stadiuim, Valcin who has a cool calm demeanour said: “I was really happy and surprised after hearing I received a scholarship as early as I did.”
He plans to take full advantage of the opportunity by improving not only his pole vaulting, but academically while studying automotive technology and business. His goal is to follow in the footsteps of his idol Johnson, by becoming an Olympian and making St Lucia proud.
Johnson, who is a former Sportsman of the Year, played a major role in that regard. He was in St Lucia during the Castries Street Vault competition held on National Day (December 13) by the market. There, he saw the potential of the young man who one day hopes to follow in his gigantic footsteps.
During the competition Valcin cleared four metres. He had already made a name for himself well before that competition. At the 2009 Junior CARIFTA Games held at the George Odlum Stadium, Valcin captured the silver medal while teammate Shem Edward won the gold. Valcin then went on to win the 2009 National Championships.
Not bad for a guy who only last year was introduced to the sport by Charlery Cornibert of the Gros Islet Secondary School. Later he was coached Andy Behl—a Peace Corps volunteer who worked diligently with a group of raw but determined athletes (male and female) who made tremendous progress in a short period.
Valcin’s mentor Johnson, also deserves a great deal of credit for keeping the sport alive in St Lucia. He assisted with equipment and while living in the United States, came here for clinics.

The sky’s the limit for pole vaulter Rick Valcin who is headed to the United States after receiving a scholarship.
It didn’t stop there. Turns out Johnson played a key role in Valcin receiving a scholarship. After witnessing his display during the Castries Street Vault, I recalled Johnson telling me he was thoroughly impressed and would do all he could to assist the young pole vaulter.
He was true to his word. Through his contacts in the United States, Johnson was able to provide Coach Behl with details concerning scholarship offers. Behl couldn’t be happier for his young talented athlete.
“I didn’t think this opportunity would come this quick,” he said. “I didn’t think it would come until June or July when he would be clearing higher heights. But given his progress so far with limited meets, I am absolutely thrilled he got scholarship offers.”
He went on to say: “We both recognize the best thing for Rick right now is to go up there {United States} and get into a more advanced program.”
That’s just the beginning. After developing his raw pole vaulting talent at Cowley College, Valcin’s plan
is to transfer to a major university to continue his development, in hopes of making his Olympic dream a reality.
By the looks of things, he is well on his way to achieving that goal.