Off-season practice vaults Brock McAnally (IL) to high mark

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Off-season practice vaults McAnally to high mark

By JOE STEVENSON - jstevenson@nwherald.com
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CRYSTAL LAKE - Brock McAnally didn't take long to demonstrate the effects of his off-season pole vault training.

The Crystal Lake South senior cleared 14 feet last week at Crystal Lake Central's indoor track and field meet, a personal best that tied the Central Fieldhouse record and an effort that would top the Class AA state-qualifying standard outdoors.

"I went to a lot of camps and tried to get as much jumping in and as much learning as I could," McAnally said. "I work on technique stuff, trying to get my form down. It's all about form, so that's what I practice on. Then in meets I try to get on bigger poles."

McAnally's career-best jump came on a 14-foot pole rated for 165 pounds. It was the first time he jumped with that pole. He said he would consider going up again - to a 14-6, 165-pound pole - at today's Crystal Lake Central Invitational, where he hopes for another career-best vault that could give him sole possession of the fieldhouse record.

"It kind of scares me though," McAnally said. "It's so big."

South coach Dave Puma was pleased to see McAnally get off to such a quick start after his extensive off-season work.

"We're really, really excited," Puma said. "He works his tail off - it's fantastic. The next step is getting the school record [14-3 by Chris Corteen] and to keep buying new poles."

McAnally, who will vault at NCAA Division III Monmouth next year, worked out at Rolling Meadows in the summer, where Mustangs coach Jim Voyles, a former Eastern Illinois decathlete and vaulter, invites vaulters for workout sessions.

McAnally also went to camps run by 1972 Olympic bronze medalist Jan Johnson, one of the country's foremost vaulting authorities. He said all the work has him well prepared for a strong senior season.

"I got a lot of vaulting in there [at Rolling Meadows]," McAnally said. "That helped me get on some bigger poles and get confident in myself. That [14 feet] was really good. It's good enough for indoor state. Hopefully, I can jump better outdoors and go to state, maybe even place."

That would seem within reach with the quick start McAnally has turned in.

"I know he did a ton [of work] this summer," Puma said. "Any chance he gets to do something, he does it. Now, [vaulting] has opened up some opportunities for him he might not have had."