HUNTSVILLE — Audie Wyatt had one thing on his mind when he left Huntsville for the Texas Relays: winning.
A relative newcomer to the sport of pole vault, Wyatt proved Friday he’s a quick learner. With a leap of 15 feet, 9 inches, Wyatt won the boys section B pole vault competition at the 86th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, a prestigious track and field meet held early each spring at the University of Texas’ Mike A. Myers Stadium.
“I think my performance in Austin showed off the hard work I’ve put into the sport. Pole vaulting is my life,” said Wyatt, who started jumping only a year ago when Huntsville High School coach Alan Bjorkgren recruited him from the wrestling team.
“I was not surprised I did this well because I knew I had it in me the whole time,” Wyatt added. “My determination and focus, with the help of coach Bjorkgren pushing me, has gotten me where I am today.”
Where he was Friday was rarified air. Wyatt outlasted everybody in the 18-man field. At the end of the day, he and Shea Paul Wood of Aledo were competing for the gold medal.
After everyone else bowed out at 14-11 or before, Wood cleared 15-5 on his first jump. Wyatt made it on his second attempt, then he did the same after the bar was raised to 15-9. Wood tried three times, but could not clear 15-9.
“I love being pushed by other competitors,” Wyatt said in a telephone interview Friday evening. “That was a lot of fun today.”
Competing on the big stage which featured high school, college and professional track and field athletes from all across the country, Wyatt said he stayed calm throughout the day.
“I handled the pressure pretty well due to the fact I love having my competitors push me to do better. It’s what I live for,” he said. “I think the sky is the limit on what I can do. I’m just getting started and aiming for the stars.”
With his jump of 15-9, Wyatt broke the Huntsville High School record that was set more than 20 years ago, according to Bjorkgren. Wyatt credits his coach for his success.
“Coach B. has helped me in so many ways,” Wyatt said. “I tried to pole vault in middle school but the coach there never let me do it much. In my sophomore year, coach Bjorkgren recruited me. I started on a nonbending pole and I could only clear 10 feet. Then I bought my first bending pole, and during the summer I would work out three hours every day.
“Coach B. bought poles out of his own pocket. He’s been such a big help.”
Together, Wyatt believes he and Bjorkgren can accomplish a lot more later this season.
“I want to finish first in state always,” the young vaulter said. “Then in AAUs, I want to go to nationals. But first I’ve got my sights set on jumping 17 feet by state, hopefully.”
From: http://itemonline.com/sports/x1319120213/High-flying-Hornet-wins-pole-vault-at-Texas-Relays
