All season I had worked for this one goal and this was my last chance. All I could do at this point was to trust my coach, training, and most importantly God.
During warm- ups I tried not to put too much pressure on myself although I knew in the back of my head that today I was either going to qualify for Indoor Nationals or not.
I kept focus. I knew what I had to do. My hands were shaking and my stomach was in knots. I couldn't seem to calm myself down until my coach gave me a pep talk and prayed with me. I took my first jump and missed. But it was then that I pulled myself together and I laughed it off because I realized that I had let my nerves get the best of me. I knew at that moment I wasn't going to make any more mistakes. I couldn't afford anymore mentally or physically.
In pole vault you get three attempts at each height. You may skip a height at any point in competition, but the more misses you have not only puts you behind it also makes you tire faster.
I continued to jump—made the rest of the heights and finally was faced with what I came here to do… Angle 1 Jump. This was the bar that I had been trying to make all season. I needed to make this height to qualify for indoor Nationals. I was not too worried yet. I had two more attempts. Before I took my final jump at 3. But you can. Please help me. A feeling that I can't find anywhere else. At this moment it's just me, my pole, and the bar. I step onto the track with my spikes and check my mark at about 70 feet.
