Rachel Secrest soaring above the competition (No Central)

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/nape ... S1.article

Soaring above the competition
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May 12, 2009
By MATT BAILEY For The Sun
As often is the case for pole vaulters, the sky is the limit. Especially for North Central College's Rachel Secrest, who is in the midst of a season most could only dream about.

After securing the Division III Indoor Pole Vault National Championship earlier this March, Secrest has continued her dominance in the air with a victory in the CCIW Outdoor Championship two weeks ago.

But that's not all. After dominating the competition in the nation's toughest conference, Secrest has set the bar even higher. So high, in fact, that she is now soaring above anyone who has performed on the Division III level . . . ever.

Two weeks before the Division III Outdoor National Championships are going to be held at Marietta College in Ohio, Secrest competed at North Central's annual Dr. Keller Track and Field Invitational.

And on a rainy day in Naperville, Secrest was given one attempt before the weather stormed in to clear 13-2¼ inches (4.02 meters). After sprinting down the path, Secrest catapulted herself over the bar with ease, and in the process set a Division III record in the pole vault. The miraculous part: Secrest had room to spare.

"It was a good vault but not a great vault for me," Secrest said. "My technique wasn't perfect, but when I looked down (while over the bar), I could see that I was over by a little bit and that I had room to improve."

Secrest eclipsed her previous best of 13-0¾ and bested the previous record of 13-1 ¾(4.01 meters), which was shared by Kelly Bowen of Nebraska Wesleyan University (2002) and Kim Marino of Richard Stockton College (2004).

Secrest is a big reason why the women's team has moved up two notches to No. 7 in the most recent NCAA Division III Outdoor Dual Meet Rankings, released Thursday by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Last year, Secrest finished a disappointing seventh place at the Outdoor National Competition, something she would like to avoid this year.

"I was too excited last year and it was one of my worst jumps of the season," she said. "But still, to know that I didn't have my best jump and still was able to place is encouraging."

With the season winding down and a national record under her belt, Secrest, a junior, has loftier expectations for her senior year.

"I want to get the B Standard for the Olympic Trials (4.20 meters)," she said. "It's a big bump up, but I want to set the bar high and I know if I keep this up there's a lot more to come."

Secrest and NCC finish up the outdoor regular season over the next four days as they host the Gregory Invitational.

[pvchick]

Rachel got 13'5 yesterday at our last chance meet!!!!