Jackie Barnes is an explosive bundle of red-headed joy to coach, smart, athletic,
and aggressive on the runway; always pushing her personal boundaries.”
-Coach Gibbes McDowell-
The absolute epitome of effervescence and enthusiasm, Amanda “Jackie” Barnes is going places. In March of this year, in just her second year of participating in the sport, Jackie became the nation’s top female high school sophomore pole vaulter at the 50th Annual Bob Hayes Invitational in Jacksonville, FL. Breaking a seven year old meet record, she reached a winning height of 12 feet, 9 inches!
In a way, Jackie followed predecessor Maddie Aune’s footsteps into the sport at Beaufort High. Jackie’s mom knew Maddie and tried to interest Jackie in pole vaulting, but Jackie was a gymnast and preferred to stick to her sport. Maddie had also started out in gymnastics at a young age, but she got hurt and segued into pole vaulting. Sure enough in her freshman year at age 14, as Jackie says, “I got hurt in gymnastics and that’s when I realized I needed to explore another sport. My aunt knew Coach Gibbes (McDowell) and reminded me again about pole vaulting. I met Coach (Herbert) Glaze who was very enthusiastic and introduced me to Coach Gibbes. Coach Gibbes got me started and then sent me to Rusty Shealy.” Coach Shealy is a nationally prominent pole vault coach who has coached champions at all levels of pole vaulting, from middle and high school students to international competitors. more
