John Russell Zips athlete of the week

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.buchtelite.com/2006/0314/sports_06.shtml

Zips Athlete of the Week

John Russell

Buchtelite Reporter
sports@buchtelite.com

John Russell

Rank: Senior
Hometown: Glendale, Ohio
D.O.B.: Oct. 10, 1983
Event: Pole Vault
Major: Secondary Education John Russell was one of the top pole vaulters in the nation entering this indoor season and was the top-ranked vaulter in the conference. Russell set the Mid-American Conference and University of Akron record three times during the indoor season last year and twice more this season.

Russell has lived up to the hype this year. The senior finished third at the NCAA Indoor Championship Friday with a clearance of 18-02.50. Russell said he almost fainted with anxiety when he was warming up at the national championship meet. That's why we asked him to sit down before we told him he was being named the Buchtelite Zips Athlete of the Week.

How and when did you get into pole vaulting?
It was in junior high. I was in detention when they had tryouts for the track team so I was not on the team. The coach didn't even know who I was so I was screwed. I had nothing to do that Spring Break and I went to see my friend at his track meet. He was pole vaulting and I was just in the stands watching. His coach asked me if I wanted to try it and I thought it was cool.

You finished second in the pole vault at the national outdoor competition during high school. Did you have a lot of offers to compete at other schools?
I didn't have any full-ride offers. I had partial scholarship offers from Ball State and Cincinnati. Akron actually offered me the least of all the schools I was looking at and that was just money for books for my first year.

So why did you choose Akron?
My high school coach told me Dennis Mitchell was an outstanding pole vault coach. I wanted to be a great pole vaulter and succeed, not just get by. I didn't want to go somewhere just because they offered me more money. The next year, I got a half ride and then this year I finally received a full ride.

Not many high schools compete in pole vault anymore. How do you feel about that?
I think it depends on the program. The problem is pole vaulting is one of the most expensive events. Mats cost around $10,000 and poles cost between $300 and $500 a piece. On top of that, some coaches don't have knowledge of the event and that can be very dangerous and lead to injuries. I think it's a shame. Coaches should be students of the event just like the athletes.

When you came to Akron, did you imagine yourself becoming a four-time All-American?
No, not at all. I think my lifetime goal was to jump 17 feet and score at the conference meet. I thought maybe I could get the school record.

Were you happy with how you performed at Nationals?
I can't complain, but I'm not satisfied. I wanted to win. I can't hang my head, though. I did a pretty good job.

What plans do you have for after graduation?
I'd like to be a high school coach, but hopefully my career doesn't stop after college. I'd like to keep competing.

[seasoned]

I went from never having seen him jump, to being impressed alot. The guy did a great job, even though the announcer didn't seem to know where he was from
I am a fan now!