Modesto Relays Article

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.modbee.com/sports/story/1005 ... 6388c.html

Pole vaulter's big day last May could help Modesto lure stars


By BRIAN VanderBEEK
BEE STAFF WRITER
Last Updated: March 3, 2005, 06:39:51 AM PST



With a single jump last May, Toby Stevenson added two dots to the world's track and field globe.

By clearing 6 meters (19 feet, 8¼ inches) at the 63rd annual Coca-Cola Modesto Relays, the Texas native and Stanford University graduate established a personal presence on the international landscape.

At the same time, he put Modesto back on the map as a viable place for the world's top athletes to congregate.

"All the articles that mentioned me that I read as I traveled through Europe last year also mentioned Modesto," said Stevenson, keynote speaker at Wednesday's Outstanding Athletes Awards dinner at the SOS Club.

"That was the first 6-meter jump in 3-4 years, so there was a lull there in the pole vault. So everybody read about Modesto and now everybody wants to come here. It's a really good thing when people in Europe want to come to a meet in the States. If I helped that out, then I'm thrilled."

According to meet director Gregg Miller, Stevenson's jump is a major reason this year's meet, set for May 6-7, will have a field much better than usual for a year-after-the-Olympics event.

"I've heard from more athletes and more agents this year than any other year I've been doing this," Miller said. "People wake up and read about Toby doing this in Modesto and they hear about it from other athletes about the performances here."

The NorCal community college championships will be held both days, with the invitational program May 7.

Miller said he will be ready in the coming weeks to start releasing the names of the top athletes who have committed to compete here. Some of the names, he said, should cause a steady flow to the Relays' ticket booth.

"We're hearing from major athletes who plan to compete in only one American meet this year, and that meet will be in Modesto," Miller said.

The first name on that list is no secret. Stevenson, who went on from his Relays performance to earn an Olympic silver medal, has confirmed his presence in the field. He's not guaranteeing a 6-meter effort, but then, he wasn't expecting to clear that height last year, either.

"In my training for the Olympic Games, I was ready for a breakthrough, and I'm glad it came in Modesto," he said. "My speed and my strength were coming along, but more important my mentality was right.

"I woke up that morning knowing I was going to jump high. I didn't know how high and I wasn't planning on jumping 6 meters. My previous high was 5.91. Six meters was unexpected, but not unrealistic for me that day."

But after clearing 6 meters, the sky was the limit for Stevenson the rest of the season.

"That jump blew the doors off my thinking, which is really important," he said. "I think that jump won me the silver medal because it was the start of a huge string of meets for me, and I went into each one knowing I could jump that high. I went from wanting to make the Olympic team to being a medal contender with that one jump."

Now Stevenson, 28, is ready and willing to become an ambassador for the sport. He's far from finished as a competitor, but he has goals more lofty that the bar he's trying to clear.

He wants track and field to gain a strong spectator following in this country. It's the same goal as many of his predecessors, but Stevenson â€â€

[VaultNinja]

Tobys got the right idea. Its up to all of us to help him out.

[mikepv1]

He sets a good example. He endears himself to the crowd. Everyone's style is different, but any athlete who wants this sport to take off in this country needs to nurture a real connection with the crowd. We need to make them know our names and start following the sport--give the sports news in this country a reason to have a permanent track and field section.

[CHC04Vault]

Looks like someone's gotta update the 6.00m club

[rainbowgirl28]

Looks like someone's gotta update the 6.00m club

Done. I updated it that day, but I might have forgotten to upload it.