TicketsMarch 13, 2009
By EVAN VICE
The University of Cincinnati track and field program has a strong tradition when it comes to the women's pole vault, and this year's squad aims to continue that tradition. The team is led by junior Kayla Dunn, who is receiving some help from freshmen Michelle Eby and Mackenzie Fields.
"I hoped to contribute this year, but I really didn't know what to expect coming into the season," says Fields, who is still new to being a full-time pole vaulter. "My high school (Mariemont) didn't have a pole vault pit and the event wasn't popular at any of the schools in my league, so I rarely practiced and most track meets didn't even have the event."
Despite not having much experience coming into the season, Fields has had an instant impact through the first month and a half. At the BGSU Challenge at Bowling Green State University in January, Fields recorded a first-place finish in the event, clearing the 11' mark. Later in the month at the Penn State National, Fields cleared 12' in the pole vault and finished second out of five BIG EAST competitors. To add to those impressive numbers, during a Feb. 6 meet in Lexington, Ky., she jumped 12' 7" to finish in second place.
Not to be outdone, however, is her freshman teammate who has also had quite an impact on UC's season. Eby (from Wayne HS in Huber Heights, Ohio) finished second (behind Fields) at the BGSU Challenge. A week later, Eby notched a fifth-place finish at the Gladstein Invitational at Indiana University. At the meet in Lexington, Eby cleared 12' 1" to finish third.
Women's interim head coach Susan Seaton is not surprised by the early-season success of the two freshmen, and she also looks for both to improve.
"I expected them to have an impact this season," says Seaton. "They both jumped 12' in high school and they still have a lot of potential."
Eby also expects big things from herself and her team as the season continues.
"I am hoping to see more improvement from myself as I work towards perfecting the vault. The team is also doing well and I expect to see big things at the BIG EAST meets. The coaches are definitely pushing us to work hard, but there's only so much they can do. It's all about how hard we push ourselves to improve."
Dunn is one of the team's upperclassmen and has also found plenty of success this season. At the Penn State National in late January, she recorded a personal best jump, clearing 12' and claiming first-place.
"It was my first time winning first place," says Dunn, a graduate of Cincinnati's Colerain High School. "I was in a jump-off against a girl from Virginia Tech. My teammates said I wore her out, so she quit and took second place. Things are really starting to click this year. Coach (Kyle) Wolf has really helped with workouts and strength training."
Wolf coaches the pole vaulters, and was a coach at Wilmington (Ohio) College for three years before arriving at UC. He was the NCAA Division III national runner-up at Wilmington in 2002.
While Dunn is enjoying her on-field success, she has also helped the freshmen make the transition from high school to college.
"The first couple of college meets were really intimidating as a freshman, but Kayla helped calm me down and stay positive," says Fields. "She has really made an effort to be a good friend and not just a teammate."
However, Dunn still considers herself a freshman in some ways, too.
"I don't really think about it," she says of the age difference. "They both give me great advice, and they are both great girls."
Coach Seaton describes Dunn as outgoing, and someone who helps get the underclassmen going with their teammates. She also praised her work ethic on the field.
"She takes pole vaulting very seriously," Seaton said. "She is very driven and she still has plenty of potential. She enjoys the group of girls she's with, too."
Although she's excited about her early season success, Dunn is looking ahead, not back:
"I'm pushing myself to get higher on my jumps. I'd like to clear 13', so I'm staying more focused and staying humble. I expect myself to work hard and I also expect the team to work hard and put everything into the rest of the season. There have been some good teams here in the past, so we have big shoes to fill."
(This story was previously printed in the Bearcat Sports Digest.)