The Lake Central girls track and field team took on Valparaiso and Portage on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. At this specific meet, several girls took home top five placings in their events. One of these athletes was pole vaulter Victoria Parashchak (12).
“Pole vault is an individual field event in track and field. Athletes get three tries to clear a set height. Most opening heights are six or seven feet. Pole Vaulters must go through proper training on how to grip the pole and how to jump with the pole. The overall goal is to bend the pole, invert, and clear the height. If you clear it, you move on to the next height,” Parashchak said.
Pole vaulting can be a very dangerous sport, with 25% of athletes suffering from concussions, wrist injuries and others. Many pole vaulters will agree that the main reason they risk the injuries is the adrenaline rush.
“I would say that the best thing about pole vault is the amazing adrenaline rush. Anyone who loves heights would have so much fun with pole vaulting even though it is difficult to learn. It is so much fun and I hope that people who are considering pole vault give it a try,” Parashchak said.
