The pole vault is not an athletic event for those weak of heart or afraid of heights.
Projecting yourself over a bar two to three times your height – aided merely by a bendable pole – takes incredible body control, explosive legs and plenty of upper-body strength.
Oh, and one more thing.
“You’ve got to be a little crazy,” said Los Altos resident Casey Roche.
If that’s true, then slap a straight jacket on Roche because he is truly passionate about pole vaulting.
“It’s a lot of fun,” the 16-year-old said. “The best part is shooting off the pole and flying through the air.”
No one soared higher than Roche at the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships, held July 27 through Aug. 1 at the University of Oregon in Eugene. At least not in the Intermediate Boys (15-16) division, which Roche won by clearing 15 feet, 5 inches. He not only set a new personal record, by 5 inches, but also finally topped rival Scott Roth of Granite Bay.
“I lost to that guy at the Association and Regional meets,” Roche said of Roth, the reigning state high school champion. “He had a bad day and I had my best day.”
Roche’s success at 15 feet guaranteed he would finish no worse than second, but he was after more than that – especially with Roth vaulting right behind him.
“I knew I had wrapped up second, so I decided to go for the win,” he said.
On his third and final attempt, Roche cleared the bar by what he estimated to be “an inch or two.”
Roth failed to follow suit, settling for second.
“I was surprised I did it,” Roche said.
But his gold-medal performance could hardly be considered accidental or lucky. Roche has been working at the sport for five years and this isn’t the first time he’s placed first at a meet.
“It takes time to get good at it,” Roche said. “It’s not something most people can do.”
Competing for St. Francis High last spring, Roche set the freshman school record. He cleared 13-7 to surpass a mark held by older brother Douglas, who’s entering his senior year at St. Francis.
Casey went on to place second at the Central Coast Section finals and qualified for the state meet.
Roche said he made great strides in his first year at St. Francis, which he said has “the best pole vault team and set up in the CCS.”
Roche said he will run cross county for the Lancers this fall, then begin preparing for another season of pole vaulting – with his goals for 2005 already in mind.
“I want to break the school record,” he said, noting that the mark is 16 feet. “I want to go for that and do well at state.”
Roche’s plans for next summer may include a trip to Africa. The win at the National Junior Olympic Championships qualifies him for the World Youth Games in Marrakesh, Morocco, in July.
As Roche can attest, being a little crazy has its rewards.
