A Pole Vaulting Champion

Dean Hefnawy was often times told that he was exceptionally tall for his age. Standing at 6’4” he towered over his classmates, let alone his family members. Like a horse, he was built lean and muscular, and he had the agility and speed to boot. His sister, Ashley, had instilled in his mind from a young age that he would make an excellent trackie, because of his long legs and lanky build. Having never really proven himself particularly talented in any other sport, the idea of track and field appealed to him as a freshman in high school. Little did he know on his first day of track, joking around with his friends, not taking anything seriously and avoiding the haze of the upperclassmen, that he would eventually become a statewide track star.

Dean sits on the cushiony field house floor of Hillhouse High School for the Connecticut Track and Field State Opens. The date is February 19^th, 2011, and this is the second and final State track meet, for only the best of the best. Last week, at the first state meet, he ranked number one in the state. On this day, the college size field house holds just under its maximum capacity of fans and sport-watchers, and the sounds of cheering, shouting and coaching ring all around Dean, though his mind blocks it out. For him, nothing but silence rings in his ears as he screws in spikes for his track shoes. His shoes, red with black and silver lines on the sides and front, have undergone far too much usage, and now hug his feet in hopes that this will be the last time he uses them for a while. They need a break, and so does he. As he finishes winding the spikes into his shoes, he raises himself up to find his vaulting pole, which stands at about 14 feet, and weighs 160 pounds. It has served as a pleasant companion for the past couple of months, for he never stays with the same pole for more than an entire track season.

His mind, normally restless and full of mysterious thought unknown to even those closest to him, remains completely clear with only one goal in mind today: jump 13 feet. It is not an unreasonable goal, seeing as to how he jumped 12’6” the previous week, but to jump 13’ is something that takes much focus and skill. It takes Dean a long time to explain to others how difficult it is to pole vault, for it doesn’t only require physicality and accuracy, but mental strength. To vault oneself ten plus feet into the air is a miraculous act in that of itself, and the thought of that alone gives average people night terrors. For Dean, however, it is merely a question of how far he can push himself to go even higher.

As he completes the preparation of his shoes, he takes off his warm-up FCIAC t-shirt, (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference) and sweatpants, to unveil his uniform. The block letter, “S” for Staples High School, stands out against the dark blue of his jersey. Those who watch him have come to know that when his shirt comes off, he is ready to pole vault. The pole goes into the firm grasp of his hands and he begins to go through the motions of stretching with the pole. He takes a few lunges backwards, holding the pole out in front of him, ready to stab the ground on which he will run. On the fourth and final backward lunge, he dashes off in a full on sprint towards the destination of where the pole will eventually meet the ground, until it does. Once the pole is planted into the ground, Dean bends it and uses the bend to spring him over the marker, which stands at 12’6”. His form stays perfect the entire time, for one single flaw will cost him. Once his head and arms are over the mark, his legs are sure to follow in sequence. After he has cleared the mark, he falls to the safety of the mat, diving feet first into the blue of the cushion, and a look of relief washes over his face.