Phil Hansen Article (IL)

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http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/04120 ... 2039.shtml

Rising to the top


Area boys building elite reputations


By Randy Sharer
rsharer@pantagraph.com


What if one of the Pantagraph area's best high school sprinters had the upper body strength of a wrestler combined with a year-round passion to learn everything he could about the pole vault?

What you might get is someone a lot like Phil Hanson.

The Pontiac junior led the Pantagraph area in the pole vault last spring with a best of 14 feet, 0 inches while also dashing 100 and 200 meters in times of 10.8 and 22.8 seconds, respectively.

During the summer, he competed frequently and placed third in his age group in a national meet, vaulting 15-0.

While posting a 32-7 wrestling record at 145 pounds last winter, Hanson also trained with the Pekin Flying Dragons Pole Vault Club and Coach Mike Cockerham at Shirk Center.

Hanson cleared a Pantagraph area record 15-10 Saturday at Metamora, breaking the 17-year-old mark of 15-6\ set by Normal Community's Sean Funk.

Only 12 vaulters in state history have gone higher than Hanson, according to the Illinois High School Association.

"The sky is the limit for him with his athleticism," said Pontiac coach Dave Young. "He is truly committed to being as good as he can be."

Young believes Hanson is capable of a top-five state finish.

"He has a tremendous amount of confidence from the time he has put in," said Young, who envisions Hanson clearing 16-0. "His goals are even higher than that."

Hanson, who has run 50.8 in the 400 this year, is among many state medal contenders attending Pantagraph Area high schools outside of Bloomington-Normal this spring.