http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/ ... 18702.html
Paine takes pole to new heights
Mustang vaulter puts painful past behind him
By ADAM KING
Chronicle Correspondent
Only two times this year has Memorial's Will Paine stumbled at the pole vault pit. But you shouldn't expect him to do so at the regional meet this week.
That's because the senior has built the ability this season to overcome the hurdles thrown in front of him. That wasn't always the case in 2005, when knocking off the bar got into his head and held him back.
"In the past, he would get kind of rattled by it," said Memorial track coach Richard Ruez. "But one of the biggest improvements he's made this year is if he has a miss, it doesn't rattle him. He can have a miss and I'm not concerned about him no-heighting. He knows what he did wrong and corrects it on the next jump."
Of course, Memorial has one of the best pole vault programs in the state thanks to the work of volunteer assistant coach David Butler as well as the head coach's commitment to developing the program year after year.
The most well-known of the male vaulters is Jim Autenreith, who holds the school record of 17 feet, 3 inches and went to the state championships before signing with Baylor.
Paine showed last week that he is another great athlete, setting a personal-best 16-6 at the Brenham regional qualifiers' meet for the victory and the third-best height in the state this season.
It was Paine's second time on a 16-foot pole this season after using a 15-footer much of the year. He was able to achieve 16-2 with that pole before stepping it up last week.
"He was getting off the top of the pole pretty well (in using the 15-footer)," Ruez said. "So we thought it was time he moved up."
Paine's only missteps were at the Will Taylor Relays at Memorial, where his pole snapped and the trainer thought he had broken his hand as well. Paine was held out of the rest of the competition, but his hand proved fine. The other setback was at the Texas Relays in Austin.
"He just had a bad day," Ruez said. "It was his first time to get to jump there and the coach from Texas was sitting in the front row. He was kind of nervous because it was his first time in a big meet like that. He was also trying to use his 16-foot pole for the first time in a meet."
Since the Texas Relays, however, Paine has hit new career highs just about every week.
"Will is kind of tall for a pole vaulter, and that's helped him get on a 16-foot pole," Ruez said.
If not for his vaulting skills, Paine would actually be the fastest 100-meter runner on the team and the 400 relay anchor.
"He's one of our faster kids, but he excels in the pole vault, so I make sure he concentrates on that," Ruez said. "He's been jumping so well lately, so he's got a shot at state. He's focused on it and I hope he has a good day."
Earlier this week, Paine signed a scholarship to vault with Texas. It wasn't a full ride, but Ruez said it completed a dream Paine has had since he picked up a pole. His next goal is to win a state title.
His top competition at regionals will be Tomball's Alex Bentley, who he beat at Brenham and the A&M Consolidated Invitational, Clear Brook's Maston Wallace and the Matthews brothers from Magnolia. Bentley has gone 16-4 this season, Wallace has reached 15-6 and the Matthews have maxed out at 16-2 and 15-6.