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Vaulter Russell reaches new heights By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN With the conditions perfect at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track Championships, Linfield College freshman Kristin Russell needed only to focus on her technique. A record-setting effort in the pole vault was the result. Russell, 18 and a former South Medford High pole vaulter, has only been at Linfield for six months and the spring track season has barely begun. But she's already broken the school record twice. This is the second year for the event in women's collegiate track. The 5-foot-4, 125-pound Russell went 11 feet, 6 inches to place second in the national indoor meet at Illinois Wesleyan University last Friday. The mark broke her own record of 11-4, which had shattered the school record of 10-8 set by Shannon Lang. "It might have been my best jump ever," says Russell. "It felt like I was way over the bar. I probably would have cleared at least 11-9." The national title was won by freshman Laura Rosenberger of Eastern Mennonite University. She cleared 12-4 to set a Shirk Center record. Russell's confidence is soaring, and she says she would like to clear 12 feet this spring and contend for a national title. "I think I can get into the 13s before I'm done," says Russell. "I've been working hard in the weight room, and the coaches have improved my technique as I have gotten stronger." Linfield women's track coach Gary Kilgore says Russell has the potential to be a national title contender in the pole vault. "Kristin did an absolutely phenomenal job of competing, and she did very well under pressure in the indoor nationals," says Kilgore. "I'm very impressed with that young lady. "We've had to work around some shin splint injuries she's had for years. And we re-worked some of her running mechanics in the event. But I think once she figures everything out, she will be awesome. "She has the heart of a lion. I think her parents and the coaches at South Medford should get some of the credit for that, too." Russell says she enjoys the thrill of planting her pole and soaring into the air. "I like the feeling of flying," she says. Russell missed twice at 11-6 before clearing the height in the national indoor meet. She missed three straight times at 12 feet, but she says she felt close to clearing it once. "That one vault felt real good," she says. "I thought I had a chance. Just that feeling gives me the confidence that I'm close to 12 feet already. I hope I can do it sometime this year." She says the experience of competing in the national indoor helps her set high goals for the future. "It shows me that I can be competitive right away with other vaulters in Division III," she says. "That means a lot." Russell started vaulting as a freshman for South Medford when track coach Bill Rowan encouraged her to try the event because of her speed and jumping abilities. As she got into the sport, vaulting at higher and higher levels became a mental challenge as much as a physical one. "It gets to be mental when you are up against good vaulters and the weather might be cold or wet, and the pressure is on to try to win," says Russell. "But I've always been pretty good at handling pressure." "I don't seem to have any fear of getting all the way up there in the air and coming down." Russell says she will soon switch to a bigger pole, which should help her marks go up. "I don't see any reason why I can't keep going up," she says. "I had to grow into the heavier poll, which will help a lot right there." Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA