Chris Roy article (LA)

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http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs. ... 50329/1006

Breaux Bridge's Roy breaks school record
Pole vaulter bests 31-year-old mark.
Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

BREAUX BRIDGE - If you've never been suspended upside down, 15 feet in the air, with just a fiberglass pole for support, it's hard to appreciate the feeling.
If you've done so at a record-setting level, so much the better.

Breaux Bridge High junior Chris Roy reached a new plateau in the pole vault at last Friday's Crawfish Relays at BBHS with a vault of 14 feet, breaking the Tigers' school record in the event and equalling the previous meet standard.

"I was aiming for 14 feet this year, but my new goal is 15," said Roy, a wide receiver in football who has been vaulting for three years and is beginning to see dramatic progress.
"Everything felt like a good day," said Roy, who cleared 14-0 on his first attempt and just brushed the bar at 14-3.

Rivals James Naquin of Teurlings Catholic and Caleb Higginbotham of Port Barre were left behind at 13-0 and foes discovered that BBHS now has a 1-2 punch in the vault with Will Lavergne, third in the 2005 LHSAA Class 4A State Meet at 13-4.

Steve Menard, BBHS's former school record-holder at 13-7, ran the event at the Crawfish Relays. Menard was a two-time state champion 31 years ago in the vault under coach Pat Arceneaux, who in retirement is providing a tip or two to Roy.

"They live across the street from me," Arceneaux said. "I bought my house from his grandfather."

"My grandpa (Allen Credeur) and father (Donald Roy) both used to pole vault," the younger Roy said. "That's how I got interested in it. Coach Arceneaux has helped me with my form, everything about the pole vault."

"I told him when he started it that it would take you two years," Arceneaux said. "You're going to get frustrated. But he's in weight training year-round, so he's gotten stronger. He's really a bright kid. He absorbs like a sponge.

"To go from 11-6 (last year's best) to 14 in one year is a big leap. He may get to 15. He's still got a lof of room to improve."

Roy studies film of his jumps to pick up pointers, and is also looking at increasing his approach from his current 75 feet to between 85 and 125 feet - the better to increase speed when he plants the pole.

"I have pretty good speed," Roy said. "My form is way better. It's getting there. I still have a little bit more to work out, but most of it is there."

Now it's a matter of getting stronger and faster, and getting on a bigger pole.

Arceneaux enjoyed seeing a new generation of pole vaulter excel at BBHS, especially in an event run by one of his former pupils.

"The crowd gave him a big ovation," Arceneaux said. "That was nice to see."