Dylan Duvio sure has been busy. The Gatorade Louisiana Track and Field Athlete of the Year will compete in the Pan American Junior Athletics Championship in Medellin, Columbia on Aug. 23-25. The pole vaulter qualified with a jump of 16 feet-8.75 at the U.S. Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa in June. He also recently competed in his third Dauphin Street Vault in Mobile, Ala. He cleared 17-1 and finished second in the unique meet where competitors jump in the middle of downtown Mobile. Duvio’s personal-best jump remains 17-3.5. He’ll join older brother, Dalton, at Stanford this year. “I was working toward it,” said Duvio, of his personal record. “My goal is a little higher than that. I’m just trying to train. My parents bring me all over the country to vault in different meets. I couldn’t do it without them.” He said he couldn’t compete without longtime Coach Doug Fraley either. Here’s what else Duvio had to say when we caught up with him earlier this week.
NOLA.com: What will you remember most about this summer?
Duvio: In Des Moines, for the trial, right when I knew I made it, that was the best memory I’ve ever had. My stomach had butterflies and I just felt nervous. I was so ready to go.
Curtis pitcher Daniel Cabrera just returned from Columbia. What did he tell you about it?
He was in another part of Columbia. I have a lot of friends who traveled for the Pan Am Games two years ago. I’m kind of nervous going into another country and vaulting. It’s the first time I’ve ever competed in another country, but I’m also excited.
What are your expectations at the Pan American Junior Athletics Championship?
I really want to hit 17-9. That would be my goal. If that doesn’t happen, I just want to get first. It’s been a long year. I’m kind of tired, but I’m trying to stay focused on this one meet. Then I’ll rest and get ready for college.
Excited about going to Stanford?
I get to vault with my brother again and go to a really good school. I just want to compete at the collegiate level and try to get the NCAAs. Next year, I hope to make the Junior Worlds, which is going to be in Oregon. I just have to keep working.
Did you think pole vaulting would become your life like it has?
No not really, but when I jumped 15 feet after football my freshman year, I was thinking I could be really good in this sport. I started vaulting in 6th grade. I used to do gymnastics and (Curtis track and field Coach) Preston Curtis said ‘Come try this.’ My brother and I tried it, and I fell in love with it.
Who are your idols in the sport?
They had this thing called the Reno Pole Vault Summit in January. They had 1,000 pole vaulters come. This year they had the 2000 gold medalist and the ones from 2004, 2008 and 2012. You get to meet all of them. You look up to everybody. I personally talked to Olympic record holder Renaud Lavillenie. It was weird. He was just in the Olympics. It was a really, really good experience.
