Husker vaulter Stately sets new school record

[rainbowgirl28]

http://media.www.dailynebraskan.com/med ... 3907.shtml

Husker vaulter Stately sets new school record
By: Tim Wegner

Issue date: 4/23/07 Section: Sports
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Brysun Stately didn't know the heights. Nor did she want to know.

But as the Cornhusker sophomore cleared the bar and heard the height, Stately knew she had done something special.

Stately cleared 14 feet in the pole vault this weekend at the 80th running of the Kansas Relays.

And with a first-place mark of 14 feet, 3 ¼ inches, the California native became the first NCAA athlete to clear the 14-foot barrier outdoors this season and the first Husker woman ever to accomplish the feat.

But despite the excitement and surprise, Stately knew it was a possibility coming into the meet.

"Before the day I told (Nebraska Pole Vault Coach Kris Grimes) that if it gets 10 degrees warmer, I'm going to break 14 feet," Stately said. "I've been training really hard the last few weeks and I knew I'm running really fast, so it was just a matter of me needing the weather to go with it."

In addition to being the No. 1 mark nationally this season, the result also erases a three-year-old school record set by fellow Husker Jenny Green in 2004. Green's record of 13 feet, 11 ¼ inches was set during her freshman year and was then a Big 12 Conference record.

"I didn't really know the (last few) heights when I was jumping at them," Stately said. "After I cleared (13-11 ¼), they told me what it was, and I knew that it was the school record. I didn't even care about hearing the next height; I just asked myself what I needed to do to get over that bar."

Stately is quick to compliment her teammates for the improvements she has shown.

In addition to the talent, leadership and experience that Green provides for the women, senior Gable Baldwin leads a talented group of vaulters on the men's side.

Stately said she has taken advice from teammates and paid close attention to their form and mechanics in hopes of improving in that area.

"You got some All-Americans out there, and they're all working," Grimes said. "And they aren't satisfied with being as good as they are. They all want to get better, they all want to prove themselves against the best in the country."

Stately's efforts highlighted a plethora of Husker and individual relays that managed high marks and results in Kansas.

[bjvando]

any video?