Dickinson Trinity co-head track and field coach Andrew DesRosier yelled, “Stay back.” And that’s exactly what senior pole vaulter McKenzie Kostelecky did.
As a result, Kostelecky cleared 10 feet, 1½ inches en route to a win and a new school record during the Town Crier Invitational on Saturday at the Biesiot Activities Center.
“To break a school record is a rare thing and those kinds of things don’t happen too often,” DesRosier said. “She’s worked hard for two years and she’s really improved in the last two years.”
“I think she’s relieved to get it in the record in the books. She wants to go higher and we want her to go higher. We are going to set more goals right now. I’m very happy for her to have it in books.”
Despite having optimal weather conditions for pole vaulting, Kostelecky admitted she wasn’t feeling the best going into the event.
However, those doubts quickly subsided when she took her first couple of run-throughs and especially once she cleared the bar for the new school record.
“It feels really nice,” Kostelecky said about the record. “I literally almost started crying when I got it.”
Setting the record was a goal Kostelecky had coming into the season. She had a comfortable time clearing multiple heights with ease.
Though she missed her first attempt at 10-1½, she didn’t miss on the second attempt. She knows this meet is going to give her added confidence going into the state meet.
“I thought I was getting over the bar really nice and the pole was snapping good,” said Kostelecky, who has signed a letter of intent to pole vault at Dickinson State. “I think I can 10-4 before regionals, so I’m pushing for first place. I don’t know if I can get it, but I’m sure going to try.”
From: http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/event/article/id/68359/
Kostelecky Vaulter Magazine
