Written by Hannah Hackworth | Photo by Balazs Balassa
Track and field indoor season had their second meet — ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ — in Pittsburg, Kansas, on Friday, Jan. 21. Harding’s men and women’s teams both placed third, and a few individuals had outstanding accomplishments.
Junior Sierra White won the pole vault and broke the school indoor record by clearing 4.03 meters, breaking her previous record of 3.76 meters.
“My very first vault freshman year I broke the school indoor record, then last year at Washburn I broke that [record] by clearing 12-6 [3.76 meters],” White said.
Her vault was an NCAA provisional qualifying height, ranking her as one of the best in the nation.
“Really, my goal for indoor season was to get up to the height I cleared outdoors,” White said. “Having that happen the first meet — I was like, ‘Ok, so I’ve hit that goal.’ I really didn’t have any others set, but my goal for the entire year is 13-10 [4.11 meters].”
Since this meet went over so well for White, her pre-meet superstitions have changed.
“Before this meet I never used chalk on my hands,” White said. “A lot of vaulters use chalk on their hands, but that was my superstition for the longest time. This is the first meet that I used chalk on my hands and now it’s probably going to happen at every other meet.”
It’s more than superstition setting White apart. Track and field head coach Don Hood said her natural talent and work ethic is the key to her success.
“She is fast, strong and courageous — a great combination for a vaulter.” Hood said. “Her success encourages all of us. Every athlete wants to do well, and when one does, all the rest are motivated to continue to work hard.”
Junior pole vaulter Lindsey Parker said this meet was a good starting point for the rest of the indoor season.
“Since we have all been jumping so long, we have gotten to the point where we have learned the techniques and steps, but we have to fit them together like a puzzle, otherwise it won’t work well,” Parker said. “We are down to nit picking little details, which is frustrating and motivating, because we are so close to making some big jumps. I think this first meet just showed us the potential we have and stirred our motivation for the season.”
