CLOVIS >> For many athletes, there’s usually little to nothing that can prepare you for the speed and size of the CIF State Track and Field Championships.That is, unless you’re a pole vaulter who hails from the Central Coast Section. The last three months of competition have apparently been more than enough preparation.”We’re all really confident going into tomorrow,” said Pacific Collegiate School’s Nicole Trenchard, who was beaming alongside teammate Erika Malaspina after Friday’s preliminary round.The junior Trenchard was one of three Santa Cruz County pole vaulters — and one of five from the CCS — who advanced to Saturday’s finals. Only 11 made the cut.The locals made it look easy, needing to clear only 11 feet, 9 inches to advance.”That just shows you how insane the CCS is,” Trenchard said. “It took 11-7 to get out of (CCS), and 11-9 to get out of (state) prelims.”Two inches wasn’t enough to keep Trenchard, Malaspina and Santa Cruz’s Katherine Whiting from competing for a state title. Each of the competitors owns a season-best vault well above the 11-9 mark — especially Trenchard, whose 12-5½ mark set in March is a county record.She didn’t get a chance to break it Friday. She’ll have to wait.”You jump, then you stop and you’re so hungry to keep going,” she said. “But it should be a great day (on Saturday).”That’s when the three pole vaulters and San Lorenzo Valley’s Anna Maxwell will see where they stack up in the state.The pole vaulters will be up against CCS champ Greta Wagner of Los Gatos, who cleared 12-10 in April. more
