Rory Quiller Article (Binghampton)

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/07/31/esg8.htm

Quiller sets bar high
Pole-vault champion takes third ESG medal since '02

By Ken McMillan
Times Herald-Record
kmcmillan@th-record.com

Freedom Plains – There was a moment in yesterday's Empire State Games track meet when all runners stopped and the attention of everyone at Arlington High School focused on West Point's Rory Quiller.
Quiller had already clinched the gold medal in the open men's pole vault and now he was aiming for the meet record of 17 feet, 1¼ inches, a mark he had already exceeded by five inches during the indoor season.
Runners on the second turn started clapping and people in the small bleacher section stood from their seats to join in. Quiller thrust his pole skyward, leaned to and fro to start his attempt and began his trip down the runway.
Cries of "C'mon, Rory!" went out as Quiller planted his pole and hurled himself skyward.
For a moment, it looked as though he would clear the bar, but his body clipped the bar and it tumbled to the ground, and for the first time on the day, Quiller showed a bit of displeasure.
Then he heard the applause from all around and realized he had his third ESG medal since 2002.
"I would have liked to go a little higher," said Quiller, a Binghamton University junior who won at a height of 16-3¼.
That's not bad, considering he was coming off an injury-plagued spring season and he's managed just one decent practice session in the past two months. At the Penn Relays in April, he strained his right calf. At the NCAA East Regional in May, he strained his left hamstring.
"It's not like I really came off being in good shape," Quiller said. "I was kind of in bad shape coming off outdoors and got in worse shape as I sat around the house not doing much. Then I got my wisdom teeth pulled two weeks ago, so I was out for another half-week."
Still, Quiller has advanced to a point in his jumping where he could climb out of bed and still clear 16 feet.
"A lot of guys get out of high school and jump only a couple inches higher," Quiller said. "I am lucky to jump 2½ feet higher than I jumped in high school (James I. O'Neill). Hopefully I can go up a lot higher."
Most of the field had already been eliminated before Quiller entered at 15-9, clearing that on his second attempt.
"My coach wants to kill me," Quiller said. "I kind of goof around at lower heights and it always gets me in trouble, (like at) indoor nationals I made two heights on my third attempts. That is something my coach will get on me to change, but Empires is a fun thing and not too stressful."
Quiller was all alone after clearing 16-3¼, so he decided to go for the meet record. All three bids at 17-1¼ failed, with Quiller citing a problem with his stride, a lack of aggressiveness and not using the right pole.
"I was a little disappointed not getting the record," Quiller said, "but I like doing this enough so I will continue doing this for a couple years."

[rqvaulter]

The school is small and not known for track as much as it is for soccer and basketball, but we are starting to make a name in D1 track. The two years I have been there, we have had two men each year make it to regionals outdoors, as well as one making it to indoor ncaa's this past year. Binghamton wont be a ucla, but could one day be a northeast pole vault factory. (i hope)
Thanks for putting up my article

rory

[Vaultref]

Hey Rory, I think we gotta do something about measuring those record height attempts! That ladder arrangement was most definitely a challange to those who have wobbly legs at the higher altidtudes.
Hopefully the site location for next year will have some equipment to do the job.