UIL Texas State Championships
Friday-Saturday, May 12-13 2006 -- Mike A. Myers Stadium, University of Texas, Austin TX
Youngster Shade Weygandt Soars 12-9
Story and Photo by John Sullivan
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| Girls 5A PV winner Shade Weygandt |
The 5A girls pole vault field looked strong coming in with veteran Southlake Carroll sr Kristen Keith (13-0 PR) and Hays soph Jessica Doyle (12-6.25 last year for #2 on the all-time US freshman list) among the leading contenders. Those two, and one inexperienced newcome,r were the only survivors at 12-0 – yet when the smoke had cleared the rookie was the champ. Mansfield freshman Shade Weygandt took the title at 12-9 to break the all-time freshman record of 12-8 set by Californian Allison Stokke in 2004.
The vault was the second best mark of the entire meet, as only McKinney sr Brittany Parker, the experienced national star, could do better (13-00.25 in 4A). Keith matched Weygandt at 12-9 in the 5A battle, but the freshman won on fewer misses.
Shade did not start vaulting until the 8th grade so this is only her second year at the event. Last summer she cleared 9-6 before starting high school. Steady progress this year led to a 12-4 clearance at District four weeks ago. “I became aware of the record after District (your humble South Region editor informed her coach she was getting close),” she said. An improvement to 12-6 a week later had coach Laurie Ellison commenting, at the time, “She got a great look at 12-9 on her first attempt and has been working the bungee at 13-0.”
It all came together in Austin at her 1st State meet. Said Shade, “I am really happy that I got the record because that was part of what I have been training for. I think that at state I just relaxed about the record and it came so much easier.”
“It was really exciting (winning as a freshman),” she added. “At first it didn’t sink in, but now I realize how big of a deal it is. I went to state to have fun and get experience, and I ended up winning the whole thing. Now that is a great feeling!”
Shade still hasn't decided what meet to do next, whether it be the Great Southwest Classic in New Mexico, Nike Outdoors in North Carolina or the Golden West. “I'm not sure, but I think I’m leaning toward the Great Southwest.”
“She has not finalized any plans but I am encouraging Great Southwest,” concluded Coach Ellison. “ It is a good meet for talented young kids and most of all it is FUN. She is only 15 and we can't do it all in one year.”