Cyrus Vafadori Article (GA)

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http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledg ... 634040.htm

Brookstone vaulter ascends into top three

Vafadori comes back from injury

BY ROBERT SPRUCK

Staff Writer


JEFFERSON, Ga. - Cyrus Vafadori listened to his longtime gymnastics coach, Doug James, and took up pole vaulting.

Vafadori gave up gymnastics before this season, his freshman year at Brookstone. Having great body control and agility from gymnastics has made the switch manageable.

Bu early in the season, Vafadori missed a few weeks of competition after falling backward during one of his vaults and landing on his wrist.

He even contemplated quitting pole vaulting altogether.

But Vafadori completed his recovery Thursday, when he finished third with a vault of 11-feet, 6-inches in the Class A boys state track and field meet at Memorial Stadium.

"I started out strong and kept improving," Vafadori said. "I thought about stopping (after the injury), but it was too much fun."

Vafadori had fun as he competed Thursday, and he never appeared intimidated by the level of competition.

He easily cleared the bar at 10-6 and did the same at 11 feet. There wasn't much difficulty beyond that as he cleared 11-6 on his first attempt.

On his first attempt at 12 feet, he barely made contact with the bar but knocked it down.

"He was very motivated and kept working at it," Brookstone track and field coach Chico Lynch said. "He just continued to work at it."

On the next two attempts, Vafadori got close but couldn't get over the 12-foot mark without knocking down the bar.

"I was pretty sure that I would finish in the top eight," Vafadori said. "I was excited that I could place in the top five."

The recent success at Brookstone might be the beginning of extended success. Last year, Mo Scarbrough finished second, and this year Vafadori's third-place finish was accompanied by a seventh-place performance by teammate Jason Elliston seventh.

"We're trying to," Lynch said. "We have been very fortunate with the athletes we have."

But Brookstone will be hurt by the departure of Vafadori, who is headed to Columbus High next year, Lynch said.

"I'm real happy," Vafadori said. "I didn't see this coming. But I'm excited to have three years left. (Third)-place is just a start."