Kane Aldrich started pole vaulting almost on a whim.
A high jumper for the Community School track and field team as a freshman, Aldrich was urged by one of the Seahawks assistant coaches to give the unique event a try.
He’s sure glad he did.
Aldrich won a state championship in the event as a sophomore, and he continued his mastery of the event on a national level. Aldrich placed fourth at the AAU Junior Olympics in Houston, Texas, earlier this month. He was fourth out of 32 competitors, not bad for someone who’s been pole vaulting for a little more than a year.
“I took a lot out of competing at this event,” Aldrich said. “Dealing with a lot of pressure, traveling a long way and competing in front of a big crowd. You learn how to deal with that kind of pressure, so it’s good to be able to have this kind of experience.”
