In an effort to evaluate the prospects for the upcoming 2003
season, UCLA’s top pole vaulting members will head to Nevada
this weekend to compete in the Reno Pole Vault Summit.
The two-day competition will serve as a measuring stick after
months of off-season practice.
“We’re using this meet as an opener for the indoor
season and to gauge where all of our athletes are right now,”
pole vaulting coach Anthony Curran said. “The athletes that
are going that have been around for a while are looking extremely
strong, and we’re looking forward to seeing what they can
do.”
For the record, the women’s team does come in tied at No.
3 in the preseason rankings. Headed by junior Gail Larsen and
sophomore Jamie Kolar, the returning vaulters will be joined by
freshman phenom Chelsea Johnson as well as senior Bridget
Pearson.
Kolar and Johnson, the CIF Division III pole vaulting champion,
will be looking to qualify for nationals with a vault of 13-feet
4-inches or higher.
“Johnson and Kolar are already looking strong in practice
and are close to vaulting at qualifying heights,” Curran
said. “We hope to get them qualified early this
weekend.”
The No. 18 men’s team will compete at the tournament as
well.
The Bruins are sending junior Jared Drake and sophomores Yoo Kim
and Pat Luke. Both Drake and Kim are returning after redshirting
last year due to injury.
“They’ve already done well in practice, jumping
higher heights than they ever had in practice,” Curran said,
“We hope we can duplicate that at the meet.”Â
Last season Luke finished 12th at the Pac-10 Championships with
a 16-7 vault. After the year off, Kim and Drake will be looking to
improve upon their career bests of 17-4 and 17-0.75
respectively.