BUTTE – Lacey Waid has taken an unusual path during her Blue Pony career. The senior pole vaulter reached a mark of 10 feet, 6 inches her freshman year at state and tied for sixth place. “That was kind of big deal,” Waid said, looking back on it. Since then, though, Waid hadn’t placed in state. Her sophomore and junior years, she never made it back to the podium that she visited her rookie year at Havre. Usually athletes improve from year to year, but perhaps she peaked early as a freshman. “I don’t know,” Waid said on her career which culminated Saturday. “All the heights just kept getting higher and higher every year. So that means I had to get better, but it just didn’t really follow through the last two years. And finally this year, I just finally got it.” Waid didn’t improve on that 10-6 mark Saturday – she matched it — though she improved considerably on her place on the podium, this time, as a senior, placing second in the Class A pole vault girls’ title. It was her goal, she said, to reach that 11 foot mark, as she finally had a bigger pole and the ability to practice with it. But going out as the state’s second-best sounds just fine to Waid. “Just really, really excited,” said Lacey Waid on her emotions. “I’ve been waiting for this for like four years … It feels really good.” The Havre Blue Ponies have been absent from the podium all week, so Waid’s second-place is a highlight for not only her but her school as a whole. “It’s just really exciting,” Waid said. “I can’t really explain how I feel right now, I don’t know. It’s just really exciting.” more
