National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

Photos submitted: At left, Carson Dingler with Coach Charlie Polhamus after breaking the indoor frosh HSR.  At right, Makayla Linebarger clearing a USATF JO national Youth record last summer. 

Carson Dingler, Presbyterian Day School Class of 2017, Macon GA
Makayla Linebarger, Sparks HS Class of 2017, Sparks NV

Honored for multiple performances this winter, including Dingler's frosh class HSR 12-8, and Linebarger's 12-5.5 at New Balance Boise Indoor

With all of the progress in girls’ and women’s pole vaulting, it was somewhat amazing that entering 2014 the girls’ prep national freshman record still stood at 12-7.5, set by one of the sport’s “pioneers,” Samantha Shepard, “way back” in 1999.  Other class records and the overall national records have continued to progress up through the past couple years, though a few indoor class marks from 2006 and 2007 remain.  It just goes to show how far ahead Shepard was before the turn of the millennium.

Last weekend, however, that record was finally broken.  While records for many events are most often broken in big championship meets, that may be less often the case in the pole vault, with athletes often reaching new standards at high-energy vault-only competitions or smaller invitationals.  For Carson Dingler, a freshman at Presbyterian Day School (Macon, Ga.), the special achievement indeed came at a championship, but a relatively small one in the new Track and Field Coalition USA indoor champs at the Crossplex last Sunday in Birmingham.  Dingler had been over 12 feet four other times this winter, with a best of 12-6, so she was ready to clear 12-8 – despite the fact that there was no one else at her level.  Second place in her division would be 8-11.75 and she was more than a foot better than the older preps on hand.

So Dingler has the record now.  But will she still have it when indoor season is finished?  Across the country in Sparks, Nev., another great freshman – Makayla Linebarger – has also been pursuing heights that would challenge the record.  While neither girl is really caught up in the “rivalry” idea, they’ve had a rich history against each other at the USATF JO level.  At the 2012 nationals in Baltimore, both cleared 10-6 in the Youth Girls division, but Dingler won on misses.  Last July in Greensboro, it was Linebarger setting a new division national record with 12-3.5, while Dingler – who’d gone 12-1 earlier in the summer – was 2nd with 11-11.75.  Both were yet to enter 9th-grade!

Linebarger’s indoor schedule has been more limited than Dingler's slate: She had a downer of a season debut at Reno – basically her home town – at the National Pole Vault Summit, clearing just 11-2.  But a week later at the New Balance Boise Indoor, she was a strong second with 12-5.5.  The upcoming Run for the Dream meet in Fresno (Feb. 17) is slated to be her last of the campaign, while Dingler plans this Sunday's USATF South Zone champs in Birmingham and possibly NBNI.

Both likely have their eyes on the soon-to-come outdoor campaign, about to start in Georgia and not far away in Nevada.  The outdoor frosh record is much tougher, the 2012 mark of 13-3 by Californian Kaitlyn Merritt.  And Dingler is not shy about saying 14 feet is already in her sights.  Both are training and competing with strong support systems.  Dingler is coached by her vaulting father, Kip, as well as Charlie Polhamus -- who was the top Master’s vaulter in the world from 1975 to 1985 and also coached Kip more than 30 years ago.  Linebarger is mentored by Randy Bryant, owner and coach of Jump-N-Shout Sports for Kids in Reno; his students also include National Summit champion Alexis Romero (13-2).

A few thoughts from Carson:

On what she’s been working on this fall and early winter after a big, successful summer of 2013:  Recently, I've been working on getting upside down earlier and moving up in poles.  The workouts are tiring, but I feel like that's a sacrifice I have to make in order to reach my goals.

On a fast start to her first prep indoor season, including four meets at 12 feet or better and a then-12-6 PR just through January:  The 12-6 was a good jump for that day.  I watch my videos over and over after the meets to see what I could've done better to reach a new height.  I am never satisfied with any jump.  Honestly, I think the only way to succeed in the sport is to never be satisfied.

On making the transition to the prep ranks and whether she’ll compete for her school team:  It doesn't feel that different jumping in the high school division, because I'm still jumping with the same people.  The only difference is that I'm actually competing against them.  Yes, I will be competing for my school's track team this year, and I am so excited!

On her goals for indoor and outdoor, and whether the 12-7 freshman indoor record is something she’s thought about:  This year, I hope to jump 14+ (high expectations right? haha), whether that occurs in the indoor or outdoor season.  I don't go to meets expecting to place at all.  I go to have fun and jump my best.  If I happen to win, that just adds more excitement to that day.  I think it would be cool to break the freshman record, but that's a small record.  I'm aiming for the overall high school record.

On thoughts of a “rivalry” with Makayla Linebarger, whether they are friends and keep in touch, and how motivated she is to compete against her:  Yes, Makayla and I are friends.  We don't really keep in touch, though.  I don't consider her a “rival.” When people get caught up on others and what they are achieving, that's when they don't do as well.  I concentrate on bettering my jumping.  I hope she does well in the future.

On what got her started in vaulting:  My father was a vaulter in high school and college. I got introduced to vaulting when I was about eight years old, but I didn't start vaulting competitively until about two years ago.  Pole-vaulting is my passion.  I am so thankful for all the experiences that have come with it, from vaulting at Junior Olympics to being featured in Sports Illustrated.

On what she's focusing on most in the weeks ahead:  I try not to think to much about the meets; I just try and concentrate on my plant. If that is right, everything else just happens. Coach Polhamus always tells me to be tall and move the pole to the left at takeoff. I have been jumping with the same girls for 3 or 4 years; even though they are a little older, they are some of my best friends. We just have fun. I really want to be the first Georgia HS Girl to jump over 13 ft.

A few thoughts from Makayla:

On what she’s been working on this fall and early winter after a big, successful summer of 2013:  September and half of October was an active rest period.  We hit it hard with conditioning, strength, and speed, but I was only able to go vault one night a week.  I played on the JV volleyball team for my high school.  Ever since we started vaulting again, I have been working on my plant and pull, turn, push.

On her reaction to a rough season-opener at Reno:  The Summit was my first meet of the season and I was very upset about my performance.  I was tense and had put a lot of pressure on myself by inviting a lot of friends.  I did not allow myself to just compete and have fun.

On bouncing back with a big PR performance at Boise:  It felt amazing to be able to redeem myself after my performance at the Summit.  Boise is my favorite place to vault.  I love the runway and the positive environment.  I have always done great in Boise.  I was a lot more relaxed in Boise than at the Summit, and this allowed me to have fun and enjoy myself.  I was able to compete very well. 

On her goals for indoor and outdoor, and whether the 12-7 freshman indoor record is something she’s thought about:  My goal for the rest of the indoor season is at least 12-8 to get the indoor freshman class record.  I only have one more meet left to accomplish this.  For outdoor, of course, I want to jump 13-4 for the outdoor freshman class record (13-3 by Kaitlyn Merritt).  At major meets this coming track season, I want to go to Arcadia and the state meet and place in the top two.  And most of all, I will have fun.

On thoughts of a “rivalry” with Carson Dingler, whether they are friends and keep in touch, and how motivated she is to compete against her:  I follow Carson and her accomplishments, although we don't talk outside of vaulting.  Of course, there is always that motivation to beat her in the back of my mind, but I am very thankful that I have someone to compete against.

On what got her started in vaulting:  When I quit gymnastics, I started All-Star Cheerleading.  My coach, Randy Bryant, happened to have some vaulters vaulting while I was working out.  I knew right away that I wanted to try it, so I asked Randy if I could.  The first practice, I was a little overwhelmed and I knew it was going to be a challenge.  Practice after practice I kept improving and having more fun.  Three months later, I vaulted at my first meet (The Summit) and cleared 8-8.  After that I knew I had found the sport for me.