Lake Buena Vista, FL– Shawnacy Barber looks to be your normal high school teenager– except he pole vault over 18 feet.
Barber broke the young men’s pole vaulting record at the 2012 AAU Junior Olympic Games with a height of 18 feet 3 1/2 inches. Many of the competitors bowed to early in the competition, leaving Barber to compete against his personal records. He has just hit 18 feet and with one final jump left, he was eyeing the record.
“I’m glad it’s over,” said Barber. “It was stressful coming down to the last jump.”
The Barber family are no strangers to the pole vaulting world. Dad, George, was a pole vaulter for UTEP back in the 1980′s and also had two stints with the Canadian National Team. Now, George coaches his protege.
“He is basically my mini me, except the new and improved version,” said George. “I’m so proud of his accomplishments.”
Barber had the opportunity to compete at the IAAF World Junior Championships this past summer in Barcelona, Spain with the Canadian National Team. Now, he sets his sights on college. Shawnacy will be vaulting for the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio next fall.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Barber. “I hope to jump high. Just have to take it one step at a time.”
from: http://aaunews.org/news/?tag=pole-vaulting
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