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Kayes focuses and sets state pole vault record
Green senior `in a zone' at Division I regional

By David Lee Morgan Jr.
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Source

AUSTINTOWN - The crowd that gathered at the girls' pole vault pit was like a crowd waiting for the opening of the latest Harry Potter movie.

When the announcement was made during the Division I regional track and field championships Friday afternoon that Green senior Carrie Kayes was attempting to clear a state-record height of 12 feet, 9 inches, everyone jockeyed for a position along the fence to watch her.

All eyes were on her but she didn't notice. Kayes, the defending state champ, later said she was in a zone.

She made her approach, took flight, cleared the bar and in the process, set the state record amid cheering and applauding fans.

Kayes was asked when she felt like she was in ``the zone'' and could challenge the previous record of 12-8.

``Tuesday,'' Kayes said. ``I cleared 12-9 on Tuesday in practice. It was the same thing last year. My best before regionals last year was 10-6 but I jumped 11-3 during practice and that's what I jumped at regionals.''

Also watching Kayes' outstanding performance was Hudson's Andy McMillen, who won the boys regional title (15-0) and Wadsworth's Kenny Owens, who was third (14-0).

``She probably has the best form for a high school vaulter that I've ever seen,'' McMillen said.

``She was awesome,'' Owens said after Kayes tried 13-0 three times but came up short.

There was a controversy in the pole vault. A Wadsworth vaulter was disqualified because officials ruled a coach had a camera in a restricted area. The Wadsworth vaulter would have qualified for state had the ruling been overturned. (article continues)