Life…it’s a funny thing how it challenges you. Just when things are going great and you’re on cloud 9, you get thrown off your happy cloud by a thunderstorm rolling through. This was my nationals. I have had, no wait…I am HAVING (correction made by my amazing pole sponsor Steve Chappell) a great year as a vaulter. I have jumped over 4.50m (the World Championship B standard) 11 times, over 4.60m (15’1 & the World Champ A standard) 5 times, and finally hit a big milestone jumping a PR of 4.70m (15’5 & one of the top 10 jumps in the world this year) all this year! I feel more confident than ever and I feel both mentally & physically dialed in. Honestly with the year I’m having I was focused on the World Champs in Russia and placing well there. I wasn’t letting any negative thoughts cross my mind. Well…nationals came and nationals went and once again I found myself in the unfortunate 4th place…once again putting me as the alternate for team USA. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt great at nationals, dialed in. The competition started fine with me clearing 4.40m and 4.50m on first attempts. Bar went to 4.55m and my pole was too soft so I blew through and need to switch poles. more
