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Katie Shaw Article

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 8:30 am
by vm
A nice article from the Greenville Daily News:
Lakeview pole vaulter to attend Louisiana school

By John Raffel - Daily News sports editor

LAKEVIEW -- It's the school Joe Dumars made famous. Now Katie Shaw is going to see what she can do.

The talented Lakeview senior pole vaulter, a state title contender, announced earlier this month that she would be attending McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La., and would be competing in the women's track program.It's the Division I school where Dumars played his college ball before being drafted by the Detroit Pistons.

"I was planning on going to Michigan State," Shaw said. "But a coach (Ty Sevin) at Michigan State got the head coach's position at McNeese. He'll be coaching both the men's and women's teams."

Shaw will be focusing on the pole vault. She is currently the area's leader in that event at 11-7. As she developed into a state championship contender over the years, Shaw started thinking seriously of a college career. She'll receive partial athletic aid and other monies from McNeese.

"By my freshman year, I knew I could be on a college team," Shaw said. "I didn't decide on McNeese until I got the papers from them. I'm not really sure right now what kind of a program they have."

Shaw will be competing in high school regional action next weekend and in the Central State Activities Association (CSAA) meet May 25 at Lakeview.

"I don't have an exact goal (for college track) right now," Shaw said, "but I'm looking forward to it."

McNeese State is in the southwestern corner of Louisiana.

"It's far away," Shaw said. "It will be warmer there. I won't have to worry about snow."

Record Setting State Champ

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 3:48 pm
by vm
Record-setting state champ

By John Raffel - Daily News sports editor
COMSTOCK PARK<.b> -- Katie Shaw missed her first attempt at clearing 10 feet in the pole vault during Saturday's Division 3 state girls track meet.

She didn't miss again until the bar was at 12-3. The Lakeview senior established a new state record for all three divisions by clearing 12-0 and winning the state championship.

"I was really, really excited," said Shaw, who previously set a personal high of 11-9 at last Tuesday's Daily News-WSCG Track Classic.

She was an easy winner Saturday over runner-up Alyssa Eader of Shelby at 11-0.

Shaw finished third in the state last year at 10-6. Her goal when the 2005 season started was to win a state title this year, but the new state record turned out to be a bonus.

"I just wanted to have a good day heightwise," Shaw said. "If I wouldn't have broken the state record, it still would have been a good way to finish my career. I figured I'd have to clear at least 11 feet."

The previous Division 3 state meet record was 10-9 and the all-division state meet record was 11-10. Shaw had surpassed both marks during the regular season.

She tried 12-3 and failed all three times.

"I thought I came pretty close to clearing that," Shaw said. "I'm still pretty excited about getting the all-division state record."

Shaw was able to overcome temperatures in the 80s. She started warming up around 8:30 a.m. and the competition began at 9. Shaw was done vaulting by 2:30 p.m. After her initial miss, she cleared 10-0, 10-6, 10-9, 11-0, 11-3, 11-9 and 12-0 before failing at 12-3. Shaw made 12 feet on her first attempt.

"I scared myself when I missed my first attempt at 10 feet," she said. "I was trying out a new pole."

Shaw will do her next pole vaulting for McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La.

"Next year I'd like to get to 13 feet," she said.

Wildcat Coach Tim Erspamer said available records indicate Shaw is Lakeview's first state track champion since the early 1980s.

"I've been here 16 years as track coach and this is the first time during that period," he said.