Heidi Biehl Article (MT)

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http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/p ... 006/NEWS01

Biehl makes good on promise to break GFH pole vault record


The best news to pop up on this computer screen last weekend was Heidi Biehl's school record-breaking pole vault at the Eastern AA divisional track and field meet in Billings. The Great Falls High junior won the event for the second straight year, clearing 11 feet, 3 inches.

Last May, after tying the school record for the second time with a runner-up leap of 11-0 at the state meet in Missoula, Biehl vowed to gain sole possession of the mark in 2005. But following major knee surgery in July, there was no certainty that she could pole vault this spring, let alone go higher than 11 feet.

But Biehl did it, thanks to plenty of courage and hard work. And, significantly, the record came in only her third vaulting competition of the season. She cleared 9-0 in the season-opening meet on April 2, but didn't vault again until the May 12 city meet, primarily because of a bad hamstring. She successfully defended her city title with a vault of 10-0.

It won't be a surprise if Biehl gives defending state champion KC Dahlgren of Missoula Big Sky a good battle at the state meet on Saturday morning in Bozeman. Although Dahlgren has a state best of 13-3 1/2 this season, her winning vault in the Western AA divisional meet was 10-6.

Biehl's winning vault in Billings established a meet record. She set the old mark (11-0) in the 2004 Eastern AA divisional.