Chelsea Johnson eager to reclaim record

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http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/art ... p?id=37138

Pole vaulter eager to reclaim record

ANDREW HSIEH/daily bruin

Jackie Nguyen and the UCLA women’s track team prepare for the Pac-10 Championships in Oregon this upcoming weekend. Nguyen, a pole vaulter, is currently ranked fourth in the Pac-10, while teammate Chelsea Johnson holds the top conference spot.

By David Garcia
DAILY BRUIN REPORTER
dgarcia@media.ucla.edu

Senior Chelsea Johnson has been at the top of the collegiate pole vaulting world for so long that it came as a surprise to many when her two-year-old record was broken earlier this year.

Florida State senior Lacy Jansen surpassed Johnson's mark of 15 feet even two weeks ago at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, clearing 15-0.25 to become the new record holder. Despite seeing her record fall, Johnson views it as an opportunity to prove once again that she is the nation's top vaulter.

"I'm not really upset about it. Records are made to be broken," Johnson said. "It used to be that I could go 14-9 and be way ahead of everyone."

After a subpar season last year, Johnson has bounced back in impressive fashion. During the indoor season, Johnson beat out Jansen for the national title and has consistently cleared heights in the mid- to high-14-feet range all outdoor season. Nevertheless, Johnson is still looking to reclaim the collegiate record.

"It's good motivation," Johnson said. "I'll definitely be looking to get the record back this weekend and in the big meets coming up."

Even though Johnson is no longer the record holder, she is still ranked as the nation's top pole vaulter – ahead of Jansen – showing just how much respect she has garnered from the track and field community.



MORE POLE VAULTERS: While Chelsea Johnson has been making headlines this season, another Bruin has also quietly been climbing the national ranks in the pole vault.

Redshirt junior Jackie Nguyen has emerged as one of the nation's top vaulters this season just a year after undergoing knee surgery which forced her to miss all of last season. An All-American in 2004, Nguyen has not only returned to form, but has gotten even better. This season, Nguyen cleared a new personal best at 13-7.25 versus USC and is currently ranked as the seventh-best pole vaulter in the nation.