Article on CA vaulting San Jose

[Bruce Caldwell]

Keepers of the vault

By David Kiefer, San Jose Mercury News

Few sporting endeavors require the demands of the pole vault: speed, strength, technique and mental toughness. And all must come together in a single sequence.

The event intimidates many and is mastered by few -- fewer still in American high school track and field. Entire states have shelved the event because of safety, insurance and cost concerns.

Only half the leagues in the Central Coast Section offer the event. But there are a few outposts where pole vault continues to be taught, and one place -- St. Francis -- where the sport is thriving like never before.

Of the top five boys marks in the CCS, four are from St. Francis. Of the top three girls, two are Lancers. Five St. Francis vaulters have cleared 14 feet, and six more have cleared 13. Two girls have cleared 12. That kind of quality and depth at one school is practically unheard of.

"Most people that have followed the event would say it's unprecedented,'' said Stanford pole vault coach Casey Roche, whose sons Casey and Doug are among the Lancers standouts.

Just as impressive is the potential. The Lancers are led by sophomores: Casey Roche cleared 15-5 last summer and believes he can break the CCS record (17-1) before he's through. Ex-gymnast Natasha Barthel, who took up the sport a year ago, already has done so -- she set a CCS standard of 12-5 in her first outdoor meet this season.

She and junior Taylor Franklin (12-0), a former circus acrobat (Cirque San Jose), form the best one-two punch in girls section history. Taylor was fourth in the state last spring. Among the boys, junior Ben Sheehan (14-6), senior Kyle Chronis (14-6) and senior Doug Roche (14-0) all have section-title and major college aspirations.