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IA- Cedar Rapids

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Cedar Rapids IA

 James Shawley To look at him, you wouldn't know he's an all-star, but he is.  James Shawley is not your prototypical athlete, yet Shawley became one of the State of Illinois' better pole vaulters this season, reaching 14'-6".  The Senior from Rolling Meadows admits he never considered himself an athlete.  The only sport he ever did before High School was Cross Country and by his own admission, he hardly ever showed up for practice.  "I did it to say I did something." 


At Rolling Meadows he once again ran Cross Country, and started out as a high jumper in track.  "I wasn't really good at it", admits Shawley,"and I started watching the pole vaulters and thought that might be fun." 
Surrounded by the tradition of outstanding pole vaulters at Rolling Meadows, Shawley had Peter Meersman (a 14'9" vaulter) and Andy Ryan (runner up in 2007) to follow, and was later joined by Mick Viken (16'-9").  "We had four freshmen pole vaulters, and I was #4.  I gradually got better when I realized that when I bend the pole and get my hips back a little bit more, I could go higher."  Shawley cleared 12 feet his junior year, but was third fiddle to then Senior Andy Ryan and current junior Mick Viken.  "The week after I get 12 feet, I stuck around and just watched Mick and Andy.  I knew I could be better.  The week after the state meet I cleared 13 feet and was on my way."  

On the way he was.  He cleared 13'9" indoors, but failed to qualify for the Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor Classic.  He was having a rough early outdoor season, as was much of the state, due to poor weather.  Finally, at Sectionals, Shawley put it all together.  "I took 15 vaults at sectionals, but I was feeling good.  I don't know if the runway at Palatine is on a downhill slope, but I felt fast.  I wanted to pass 14'-9" and go for fifteen because I was tired, but my coach (John Lemke) told me to try 14'-9".  On all three attempts I was over, but hit the crossbar on the way down."  

Shawley was the final senior pole vaulter selected to the Senior Spothlight meet for team Illinois.  He is joined by 07 Champ Mitchell Erickson, and other All-Staters including 3rd place finisher Greg Hough from Lake Park.

Shawley is currently planning on attending Northern Illinois to persue a nursing degree, something which he has a passion for after volunteering at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.  His decision is not without conflict, as he was recently contacted by Southern Illinois University (where he visited) to come vault in Carbondale.  

Also joining Shawley at the Senior meet is his teammate, jumper Ty Kirk.  Kirk may be the exact opposite of Shawley, as the prototype athlete.  Kirk will be attending New Mexico next year on a Football scholarship, but also plans on jumping for their track team.   

Toni Graham of Conant has come along, bringing with her the State Champion 4 x 200 relay from Conant.  All seniors, the team of Graham, Destiny Arps, Briana Millar, and Emily Quinones have a unique opportunity, having had run together for several seasons.  If they can match their State Meet time of 1:38.96, they will smash the meet record of 1:42.80 set by team Illinois in 2003.  

Graham signed her letter of intent to run at Alabama next year mostly due to the great coaching and the proximity of her grandparents to the University.  

In its final year at the University of Northern Iowa (moving to Plattvile, Wisconsin next year for two years, then Concordia University il Illinois for two) the field events begin at 10:15, and running events at 11:00. 
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