Kristina Finley article (UIC)

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http://www.chicagoflame.com/media/paper ... 0687.shtml

The record breaker

Kristina Finley took on a new sport, and then took on the UIC record books

By Douglas Pearson
Published: Monday, February 6, 2006

Media Credit: UIC sports information
Kristina Finley has set school records in both the indoor and outdoor pole vault for the flames.

ristina Finley started pole vaulting only a year and a half ago. She started her UIC athletics career as a gymnast but soon found her calling with pole vaulting and throwing for the track and field team.

Finley, a junior majoring in biological science, had been a gymnast most of her life. After a year of college gymnastics, she felt burnt out and needed a change. "I love gymnastics," said Finley. "How could I not? It was my life for so long. I do miss it, but I wouldn't give up pole vaulting anytime soon to go back to it."

When she made up her mind to stop being a gymnast, her roommate, a member of the women's track team, convinced her to try pole vaulting. Having a stronger upper body than most women because of gymnastics, Finley was a natural pole-vaulter.

It didn't take long for Finley to show off her natural athletic talent. At one of her first outings as a pole-vaulter, she broke the UIC record for the indoor pole vault. Four months later she would break the school outdoor record as well.

When Finley started on the team she had no idea how to pole vault. They had to teach her everything. It's a long process learning how jump 10 feet 6 inches. When she first started in late 2004, the indoor record was 9 feet 2 inches. She broke that record later that year setting it at 9 feet 6 inches. Then in the first meet of this year Finley one-upped herself and set the record at 10 feet 1 inch.

She had said that her personal goal was to break the 11 feet 6 inches mark by the end of the year. One week later in the second meet of the indoor year Finley did it again and set the record at 10 feet 6 inches.

And with having moved up to a bigger pole just days before the meet it looks like Finley might just hit that 11 feet 6 inches that she's looking for. One of the things that height would do for Finley is qualify her for the NCAA regional meet in May.

"Pole vaulting is my sport now, and its one of the best choices I've ever made," said Finley, who came to UIC from Naperville Central. "The coaches I have now and the people I'm surrounded by are wonderful."

Not many people manage to break a record in sports, let alone break their own records twice. But Kristina Finley has done so, taking the school record for both the indoor and outdoor records in pole vaulting.

It's remarkable how far Finley has come in just a short time. Only a sophomore in eligibility, she is a great example of a true athlete at UIC.