Hays’ Chaney Turney (left) and Meredith Driskell have a look of bewilderment after Driskell snapped her pole while attempting a 12-foot vault at Friday’s Class 4A UIL State Track and Field Meet. (Photo by Cyndy Slovak-Barton)
by JASON GORDON
It wasn’t quite as bad as an impossible-to-kill man wearing a white hockey mask chasing the Hays pole-vaulters around Myers stadium, but it was certainly an unlucky Friday the 13th for the Rebels at the Class 4A UIL State Track and Field Meet.
First, 2010 Class 4A state silver medalist Chaney Turney failed to clear her opening height of 10-feet, 6-inches and was immediately eliminated from the competition.
Then fellow Rebel and medal favorite Meredith Driskell had a pole snap in two while attempting to clear 12 feet.
She would go on to clear 12 feet on a later jump, but the clearly shaken Driskell missed her next three attempts at 12-6 and finished fifth in the competition.
Hays senior Daryl Burrell, who cleared 16 feet in setting a Rebel boys record at the Texas Relays in April, topped out at 15 feet later that evening and also finished fifth.
“I’ve never broken a pole before in my life,” Driskell said. “I actually didn’t realize that’s what happened. The sound was so loud I thought it was one of the starters firing blanks to start one of the other races. It wasn’t until I landed in the pit that I knew what happened.”
Driskell said it was hard to get back on track after that.
“I have a bruise across my back so it was pretty intense,” she said. “I was shaking afterward.”
Although she did go on to clear 12 feet, Driskell had trouble picking out the right pole to vault with on higher attempts.
“It was a shame because I really felt it was my day,” Driskell said. “I thought 12-9 was within my reach, and that’s what would have won it. I felt really, really good in warm ups. Everything was on.”
Driskell, who will get a chance to return her senior year in 2012, said she will try learn from her experience this year.
“That’s pole vaulting,” she said. “You always end on a miss. It was disappointing but I think I have a good chance to get back to this level next year and win it or definitely medal.”
Turney called her inability to clear the opening 10-6 height paralysis by analysis.
“Something obviously went wrong,” Turney said. “I’ve been battling with my 18-step approach on and off all season because I overanalyze every step. It was absolutely disappointing and a shock, but I expect to be better from it in the future.”
Turney will continue her vaulting career at Rice University next season.
“Friday night, I went home and practiced until midnight just to prove what happened at the state meet was a fluke,” Turney said. “Hopefully this will allow me to handle adverse conditions better in the future. Expect to hear great things from Rice about me in the coming school year.”
Burrell, who will vault for the University of Texas-Arlington next season, enjoyed his experience at state.
“It was an amazing, one-of-a-kind opportunity, something I’ll never get to experience again,” Burrell said. “I was proud of the fact I got there. I loved the fact I was part of a great pole-vaulting tradition at Hays and I’ll try and always keep up with the younger generation to see how they’re doing. That’s what keeps this thing going.”
