Injuries take Skipper out of meet

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2006/ ... ion=sports

Injuries take Skipper out of meet
By Curtis Anderson
The Register-Guard
Published: Saturday, August 5, 2006
One of the best American pole vault fields ever assembled lost its hometown hero Friday when Oregon's Tommy Skipper said he would not compete at the Road to Eugene '08 track and field meet at Hayward Field on Tuesday.
Skipper said he was pulling out of the meet due to lingering pain in his right shoulder and other complications from injuries sustained in a practice mishap while vaulting under the West Grandstands on July 3.
Skipper, a four-time NCAA champion, indoors and outdoors, said the injuries forced him to cancel a trip to Europe this summer in which he was hoping to improve on his personal best of 19 feet.
"I'm very disappointed," said Skipper, who will be a senior at Oregon this fall. "I love competition, and to train all year long, not only for NCAAs and U.S. nationals, but other meets this summer, and have this happen is a big deal to me.
"I felt like I was ready for a huge breakthrough. I was having some great sessions in practice, jumping over 19-2 and 19-4, and given the right conditions, I knew I was going to do that in a meet."
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Skipper said he hurt himself when he completely missed the landing pit while attempting a practice vault at 19-4. He said he bruised his right tailbone when he landed on the ground with the right side of his buttocks and also "jarred my shoulder pretty good" when he broke the fall with his right hand.
"My plant must have been to the left, because when I went up in the air, I pulled pretty hard, and the next thing I knew, I landed on the left side of the pit," Skipper said. "I didn't touch the pad, although I might have hit the cover which was draped over the pad. I landed on my butt, and I was lucky to catch myself with my right hand."
Skipper said he was taken to the treatment center at the Bowerman Building immediately after the accident. He underwent X-rays and an MRI over the next couple of days, which he said revealed no serious damage.
However, the ligaments and tendons in his right shoulder "were both stretched out," and he said the doctors told him that the soreness and inflammation might not subside for four to six weeks or longer. Skipper said he also has been experiencing cramping in his left leg.
"His shoulder is not feeling good enough to warrant competing," said UO assistant coach Dan Steele, who was spotting Skipper when he was injured. "He was looking as good as he has ever looked (this summer). We were hoping to take a crack at some big marks sitting out there, but unfortunately, he's a little beat up and it won't happen ... he has a deep bruise and it takes time to feel better."
Skipper, who won the NCAA pole vault title with a clearance of 18-8 1/4 in Sacramento on June 9, went on to place third at U.S. nationals in Indianapolis later in the month at 18-4 1/2 , which was also his opening height.
The pole vault field at the Road to Eugene '08 meet now includes six athletes who have cleared 19 feet, including 2006 world indoor champion Brad Walker, who recently cleared 19-8 1/4 ; 2006 U.S. champion Russ Buller; 2004 Olympic gold medalist Tim Mack; 2000 Olympic gold medalist Nick Hysong; four-time U.S. champion and Olympian Jeff Hartwig; and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson.
The meet also lost some featured stars Friday when several big-time athletes were left off of the updated start list. They include Bershawn Jackson in the 400 hurdles, Adam Goucher in the 1,500, Christian Cantwell in the shot put, Sanya Richards and Allyson Felix in the 200, and Anjanette Kirkland in the 100 hurdles.

[science geek]

missing the pit from 19 feet and no broken bones, sounds pretty lucky to me.

[VTechVaulter]

missing the pit from 19 feet and no broken bones, sounds pretty lucky to me.

yeah def. he has a tendency to drift a lot. his 18'4 clear at ncaas was way left. hopefully he learns from this, and isn't so hesitant to bail on drifted vaults. kid is tough as nails though, always has been.

[achtungpv]

How about not throwing your head back and pulling. You might actually know where you are in the air then!